Arrhythmic variant of post-covid myocarditis: spectrum of rhythm and conduction disorders, treatment approaches

Aim. To study the spectrum of rhythm and conduction disorders in patients with arrhythmic variant of postcovid myocarditis and determine the treatment approaches. Methods. The study included 23 patients with post-COVID-19 по абстракту разное написание. Post-COVID arrhythmias who had at least two of the three Lake-Louise criteria for myocarditis on magnetic resonance imaging of the heart and/or elevated anticardiac antibody (ACA) titers. The period of occurrence of post-COVID arrhythmias was 4.0 [2.0; 8.0] months, from 2 to 34 months. Echocardiography, Holter monitoring, and ACA study were performed. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 70% of patients (n=16). Coronary artery disease was excluded in 9 patients with risk factors. Results. In all patients’ arrhythmias were associated with COVID-19. Rhythm and conduction disturbances occurred within 2 to 34 months after infection. Echocardiography revealed no left ventricle systolic dysfunction. In all patients, an increase in ACA by 3 or more times was noted, in 65.2% (n=15) a specific antinuclear factor (ANF) was detected, reflecting the high immunological activity of myocarditis. Ventricular arrhythmias in most cases were represented by frequent ventricular extrasystole. Among supraventricular arrhythmias, frequent extrasystoles, non-sustained tachycardia, paroxysmal form of atrial fibrillation were detected. In one case, a transient atrioventricular block II-III degree developed. Treatment approaches included antiarrhythmic and immunosuppressive therapy. All patients underwent Holter monitoring, which showed regression of arrhythmias. Patients with high immunological activity of myocarditis underwent immunosuppressive therapy with methylprednisolone 8-16 mg/day (n=13), with moderate - mild immunosuppressive therapy with hydroxychloroquine 200 mg/day (n=10). When controlling the ACA titers, their decrease was noted. The decrease in the specific ANF titer was close to statistically significant (p=0.057). Interventional treatment of arrhythmias was performed in three patients. Conclusions. Arrhythmias that first developed after COVID-19 require the exclusion of subacute/chronic myocarditis that develops 2-8 months after COVID-19. The spectrum of arrhythmias in patients with post-COVID myocarditis is mostly represented by frequent symptomatic extrasystoles. Basic therapy of the arrhythmic variant of post-COVID myocarditis with methylprednisolone and/or hydroxychloroquine makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs with the opportunity of their complete withdrawal in some patients.