New Perspectives on Long COVID Syndrome: The Development of Unusually Delayed and Recurring Pericarditis After a Primary SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, pericarditis has been identified as a COVID-19 complication. We report a case where the development of pericarditis was unusually delayed after the initial COVID infection. The reported onset of pericarditis and pericardial effusion is anywhere from a few days to a few months after infection. Our case surmises that a latent complication of COVID-19 can manifest more than one year after the initial infection. A forty-three-year-old male with a past medical history of SARS-CoV-2 infection in September 2020 presented in September 2021 and January 2022 with recurrent sharp chest pain and shortness of breath. During both admissions, he was diagnosed with acute pericarditis, and his workup was significant for elevations in D-dimer and CRP as well as pericardial and pleural effusions. Recurring pericardial symptoms and persistent elevations in D-dimer and CRP point toward a COVID etiology, particularly in the absence of other factors associated with pericarditis. Our case highlights the importance of recognizing this latent complication one year after the initial infection and how the symptoms can persist beyond the one-year period.

A Case Report of DVT following the Johnson and Johnson Vaccine against the Novel SARS-CoV-2.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot typically in the deep veins of the extremities. The risk factors for venous thrombosis are primarily related to hypercoagulability, which can be genetic, acquired, or due to immobilization and venous stasis. The Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine developed against the novel SARS-CoV-2 has been linked to more specific cases of thrombosis, associated with low platelet levels similar to that seen in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. In this case report, we present a female who developed a DVT four days after receiving the J&J vaccine. We propose that the administration of this vaccine may further increase the risk of developing DVTs in patients with previous risk factors, and we hope to use this case to support screening all patients for previous risk factors for thrombosis before administration of the J&J vaccine.

Chlamydia trachomatis Mimicking COVID-19 Chronic Follicular Conjunctivitis.

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinical presentation and report lab findings of Chlamydia trachomatis follicular conjunctivitis in two patients with a positive history of active COVID-19 infection. Participants. Two patients with follicular conjunctivitis with a recent history of COVID-19 infection. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, case report. METHODS: Demographic data including age, gender, and place of residence were recorded. A full exam with an emphasis on inflammatory characteristics and systematic workup. Sample follicles were surgically excised in selected cases, and molecular and histopathological analyses were performed. RESULTS: Both patients were initially treated for viral conjunctivitis. After symptoms failed to resolve, biopsy results indicated that both patients were positive for chlamydia conjunctivitis and treated accordingly. CONCLUSIONS: These cases illustrate the role of biopsy as an investigative tool in chronic conjunctivitis and the importance of having a broad differential when treating patients with acute conjunctivitis.