Myocarditis reported in adolescents After COVID 19 Vaccination with Pfizer vaccine

This case series offers useful preliminary information on clinical and therapeutic details regarding myocarditis among adolescents. While health officials investigate whether vaccination caused this condition, Judith A. Guzman-Cottrill, D.O., a corresponding author of the report, said she hoped the report would raise clinicians' awareness to suspect and report these cases.

"The takeaway is if an adolescent or young adult presents with symptoms that could be from myocarditis or pericarditis — and really chest pain is the primary symptom that was consistent in all seven of our cases — then all clinicians should know they should ask about a recent COVID-19 vaccine," said Dr Guzman-Cottrill, professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Oregon Health and Science University and an Oregon Pediatric Society affiliate member. She recommended a full diagnostic evaluation.

The researchers identified cases through personal communications between colleagues around the country and published their findings. They reported cases of 7 male patients ages 14-19 who were otherwise healthy. They were presented with symptoms of myocarditis or myopericarditis two to four days after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. All of them had chest pain, and five had a fever. Other symptoms seen in one or more patients included shortness of breath, fatigue, pain in both arms, nausea, vomiting, headache, anorexia and weakness. All of the teens had elevated troponin levels and abnormal electrocardiogram and cardiac MRI results, according to the report.

All boys were tested negative for COVID 19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome during their diagnosis of myocarditis. Additional testing did not point to another viral cause of the inflammation.

Treatment Details:

Among 7 patients, 6 received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment. Four patients received intravenous immunoglobulin and oral prednisone; one of these four patients also initially received high-dose methylprednisolone. All recovered with hospital stays ranging from two to six days. However, there is no definite causal relationship between these cases and vaccine administration.

In an accompanying editorial, AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) Vice-Chair Dr Sean T. O'Leary said, "Given the mild nature of the cases and rarity of these events, even if it is (a real connection), I think the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh the risks".

The authors advised Primary care and ED physicians and healthcare providers to,

• " Consider myocarditis as an etiology of chest pain in patients with recent COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.
• Elevated serum troponin, an abnormal ECG, and an abnormal cardiac MRI were seen in all cases.
• An evaluation for acute COVID-19 infection (via PCR of respiratory tract sample) and past disease (via SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and spike protein antibodies) is recommended for all cases of myocarditis that occur after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, as well as a comprehensive workup to exclude other infectious and non-infectious causes.
• The benefits of vaccination significantly exceed possible risks.
• Individuals and physicians are encouraged to follow the guidance of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
• All cases of myocarditis with or without pericarditis occurring after COVID-19 vaccination should be promptly reported to VAERS".

For further information:

DOI: 10.1542/peds.2021-052478