RESUMEN
Myocardial involvement has been described during previous SARS and MERS outbreaks. Infection by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) can range from asymptomatic to life-threatening multi-system disease. Heart involvement most commonly occurs during severe COVID-19 infection. Myocardial injury, based on elevated levels of myocardial enzymes, has been noted in up to 30% of patients with COVID-19 infection and could be a marker for worse prognosis. A few cases of possible myocarditis due to SARS-CoV-2 have been described, providing variable degree of evidence of direct myocardial involvement. We reviewed in detail those cases in comparison to relevant literature on SARS and MERS and attempted to draw initial conclusions in regard to clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis.
RESUMEN
The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic began in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province. COVID-19 is a systemic infection affecting several systems including the haematopoietic system. Surveys illustrating the laboratory findings of these patients conclude that lymphocytopenia, neutrophilia and thrombocytopenia are prominent amongst them. Moreover, it has been reported a significant decrease in T lymphocyte subsets and an increase of inflammatory cytokines of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Generally, thrombocytopenia is commonplace in critically ill patients and usually suggests serious organ malfunction. In view of this, this review investigates the correlation between these abnormalities and the prognosis and disease course. Full blood count is an easy, economic and widely available tool which may help to discriminate between patients with or without severe disease. Last but not least, this review examines potential pathophysiological mechanisms by the novel coronavirus which contribute to these haematological alterations aiding the clinicians to better understand this disease and provide more clinical treatment options.
