tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Cureus
. 2023 Apr 13;15(4):e37517.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.37517. eCollection 2023 Apr. COVID-19-Induced Complete Heart Block: Case Series and Literature Review
Raghav Bassi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeeshan Ismail[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joshua K Salabei[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kipson Charles[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asad A Haider[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Abdullahi Hussein[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrew Smock[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to the emergence of a wide range of complications, including those affecting the cardiovascular system. In this case series, we present four patients who developed complete atrioventricular block, a serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder, during the course of their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness. The mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may lead to arrhythmias are not fully understood but may involve direct infection and damage to heart tissue, as well as inflammation and cytokine storms. The extent and duration of complete heart block varied among these cases, highlighting the need for further research to understand the spectrum of disease and to improve mortality and morbidity in future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections. We hope that this case series will draw attention to this serious complication of COVID-19 and inspire further research to improve management and outcomes for affected patients.
Keywords: arrhythmia; complete heart block; coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19); covid-19-induced arrhythmia; covid-induced myocarditis; heart block.
. 2023 Apr 13;15(4):e37517.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.37517. eCollection 2023 Apr. COVID-19-Induced Complete Heart Block: Case Series and Literature Review
Raghav Bassi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Zeeshan Ismail[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joshua K Salabei[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Kipson Charles[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Asad A Haider[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Abdullahi Hussein[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrew Smock[SUP] 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37193481
- PMCID: PMC10182568
- DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37517
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to the emergence of a wide range of complications, including those affecting the cardiovascular system. In this case series, we present four patients who developed complete atrioventricular block, a serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder, during the course of their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness. The mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 may lead to arrhythmias are not fully understood but may involve direct infection and damage to heart tissue, as well as inflammation and cytokine storms. The extent and duration of complete heart block varied among these cases, highlighting the need for further research to understand the spectrum of disease and to improve mortality and morbidity in future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections. We hope that this case series will draw attention to this serious complication of COVID-19 and inspire further research to improve management and outcomes for affected patients.
Keywords: arrhythmia; complete heart block; coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19); covid-19-induced arrhythmia; covid-induced myocarditis; heart block.