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Myocarditis After Vaccination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2022

Mustafa Emin Canakci*
Affiliation:
Emergency Department, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Kadir Ugur Mert
Affiliation:
Cardiology Department, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Nevin Aydin
Affiliation:
Radiology Department, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
*
Correspondence: Mustafa Emin Canakci, MD Emergency Department Eskisehir Osmangazi University Eskisehir, Turkey Prof. Dr. Nabi Avcı Boulevard No:4, Meselik, Odunpazarı, 26040 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Type
Letter to the Editor
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine

In the article “Vaccine-Induced Myocarditis in Two Intern Doctors in the Same Night Shift,” myocarditis cases that developed after the first dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech’s [New York USA] coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] vaccine) were mentioned. Reference Canakci, Sevik, Dereli, Mert and Acar1 In this article, it was stated that myocarditis cases were mild. There is a need to provide information about myocarditis-related processes. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in both patients and Ejection Fraction ratios were found to be 68% and 62%. Left ventricular function was normal, and no increase in enhancement was detected in late contrast examinations. There was no sign which depicts scar tissue in the heart (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The echocardiography showed that left ventricular functions were normal and there was no diastolic dysfunction. Also, no valve pathology was found.

Figure 1. 3T Cardiac MRI of Patient One: (A) Short Axis CINE Images Taken in the Enddiastolic Phase; (B) Short Axis T1-Weighted Black Blood Fast Spin Echo Image; and (C) Short Axis Late Gadolinium Enhancement (10th minute).

Abbreviation: MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

Figure 2. 3T Cardiac MRI of Patient Two: (A) Short Axis CINE Images Taken in the Enddiastolic Phase; (B) Short Axis T1-Weighted Black Blood Fast Spin Echo Image; and (C) Short Axis Late Gadolinium Enhancement (10th minute).

Abbreviation: MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

We think that some scientific data should be included in addition to the general condition of the cases. According to a study conducted in 40 centers, myocarditis cases developing on the seventh day after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in men aged 18-29 were seen at much higher rates than both the first dose and the second dose of vaccine (RR: 61.8 [95% CI, 8.5-451.8] and RR: 7.0 [95% CI, 3.7-19.1], respectively). In addition, the risk of myocarditis after SARS-CoV-2 was statistically higher than in the post-vaccination period, similarly in other age groups and female gender. Reference Block2

Myocarditis linked to the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine typically affects young persons and is usually mild. Also, COVID-19 vaccination lowers the relative risk of myocarditis and arrhythmia. Reference Heymans and Cooper3

A study showed intubation or mechanical ventilation was only used in two patients, and 12 cases were treated with vasoactive drugs in patients younger than 30 years. There were no confirmed cases of myocarditis needing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a ventricular assist device, or a heart transplant. Reference Oster, Shay and Su4

In the light of these information, it should not be forgotten that vaccination is still very valuable and booster vaccination should be made to prevent new pandemic waves in the on-going process.

Conflicts of interest/funding

None

References

Canakci, ME, Sevik, OE, Dereli, G, Mert, KU, Acar, N. Vaccine-induced myocarditis in two intern doctors in the same night shift. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2022. Online ahead of print.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Block, JP. Cardiac complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection and mRNA COVID-19 vaccination — PCORnet, United States, January 2021–January 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022. Online ahead of print.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heymans, S, Cooper, LT. Myocarditis after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination: clinical observations and potential mechanisms. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2022;19(2):7577.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oster, ME, Shay, DK, Su, JR, et al. Myocarditis cases reported after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination in the US from December 2020 to August 2021. JAMA. 2022;327(4):331340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Figure 0

Figure 1. 3T Cardiac MRI of Patient One: (A) Short Axis CINE Images Taken in the Enddiastolic Phase; (B) Short Axis T1-Weighted Black Blood Fast Spin Echo Image; and (C) Short Axis Late Gadolinium Enhancement (10th minute).Abbreviation: MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

Figure 1

Figure 2. 3T Cardiac MRI of Patient Two: (A) Short Axis CINE Images Taken in the Enddiastolic Phase; (B) Short Axis T1-Weighted Black Blood Fast Spin Echo Image; and (C) Short Axis Late Gadolinium Enhancement (10th minute).Abbreviation: MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.