Acute pericarditis after COVID 19 in a peritoneal dialysis patient

Abstract

COVID-19 is known to affect numerous organs which have ACE-2 receptors, lung being the most involved organ. Nevertheless, cardiac involvement is not uncommon and can occur through a variety of manifestations. The authors hereby report a case of pericarditis following SARS-CoV-2 infection. A 54-year-old man with end stage kidney disease under peritoneal dialysis presented with acute chest pain approximately 1 month after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Electrocardiogram revealed widespread ST segment elevation. The diagnosis of acute pericarditis secondary to the viral infection was made and the patient was treated accordingly. Etiology of acute pericarditis can be very varied, and, in many times, no cause is ascertained. In such circumstances, viral or immune mediated etiologies are assumed. In our case, since no cause was proven, pericarditis was assumed as secondary to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. This entity is probably underdiagnosed. In patients undergoing dialysis, uremic pericarditis is commonly the etiology. However, different causes must be taken into consideration, COVID-19 being one of them.