Is the mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Safe in Patients With a Prior History of Myocarditis?

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have reported myocarditis resulting from messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. However, to date, there have been no reports highlighting the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in children and adults with a prior history of myocarditis, which was the intent of this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Children and adults cared for at the Cleveland Clinic were identified through the electronic health records, who had a history of myocarditis before the COVID-19 pandemic and had subsequently received at least 2 doses of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (n = 34). Only 1 patient in this series had recurrence of myocarditis confirmed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging after receiving the second dose. He was a White man who had his first episode of myocarditis at age 20 and was 27 years of age at the time of recurrence. He was hospitalized for 2 days with no need for cardiac support or reported arrhythmias and was stable at outpatient follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with an old history of non-COVID-19 myocarditis, the risk of recurrent myocarditis after receipt of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is low, and when it occurs it seems to be self-limiting. Our study will be valuable to clinicians while discussing the risk-benefit ratio of vaccinations in patients with a prior history of myocarditis.

Pediatric Pericarditis: Update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: While there have now been a variety of large reviews on adult pericarditis, this detailed review specifically focuses on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of pediatric pericarditis. We have tried to highlight most pediatric studies conducted on this topic, with special inclusion of important adult studies that have shaped our understanding of and management for acute and recurrent pericarditis. RECENT FINDINGS: We find that the etiology of pediatric pericarditis differs from adult patients with pericarditis and has evolved over the years. Also, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for pediatric clinicians to be aware of pericardial involvement both due to the infection and from vaccination. Oftentimes, pericarditis maybe the only cardiac involvement in children with COVID-19, and so caregivers should maintain a high index of suspicion when they encounter children with pericarditis.  Large-scale contemporary epidemiological data regarding incidence and prevalence of both acute and recurrent pericarditis is lacking in pediatrics, and future studies should focus on highlighting this important research gap. Most of the current management strategies for pediatric pericarditis are from experiences gathered from adult data. Pediatric multicenter trials are warranted to understand the best management strategy for those with acute and recurrent pericarditis. CASE VIGNETTE: A 6-year-old child with a past history of pericarditis almost 2 months ago comes in with a 2-day history of chest pain and fever. Per mother, he stopped his steroids about 2 weeks ago, and for the last 2 days has had a temperature of 102F and has been complaining of sharp mid-sternal chest pain that gets worse when he lies down and is relieved when he sits up and leans forward. On examination, he is tachycardic (heart rate 160 bpm), with normal blood pressure for age. He appears to be in pain (5/10), and on auscultation has a pericardial friction rub. His lab studies are notable for elevated white blood cell count and inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR). His electrocardiogram reveals sinus tachycardia and diffuse ST-elevation in all precordial leads. His echocardiogram demonstrates normal biventricular function and a trace pericardial effusion. His cardiac MRI confirms recurrent pericarditis. He is started on indomethacin and colchicine. He has complete resolution of his symptoms by day 3 of admission and is discharged with close follow-up.