AUTHOR=Borlotti Alessandra , Thomaides-Brears Helena , Georgiopoulos Georgios , Banerjee Rajarshi , Robson Matthew D. , Fusco Dahlene N. , Masci Pier-Giorgio TITLE=The Additive Value of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Convalescent COVID-19 Patients JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.854750 DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.854750 ISSN=2297-055X ABSTRACT=

In COVID-19 the development of severe viral pneumonia that is coupled with systemic inflammatory response triggers multi-organ failure and is of major concern. Cardiac involvement occurs in nearly 60% of patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions and heralds worse clinical outcome. Diagnoses carried out in the acute phase of COVID-19 rely upon increased levels of circulating cardiac injury biomarkers and transthoracic echocardiography. These diagnostics, however, were unable to pinpoint the mechanisms of cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients. Identifying the main features of cardiac injury remains an urgent yet unmet need in cardiology, given the potential clinical consequences. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides an unparalleled opportunity to gain a deeper insight into myocardial injury given its unique ability to interrogate the properties of myocardial tissue. This endeavor is particularly important in convalescent COVID-19 patients as many continue to experience chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea and exertional fatigue, six or more months after the acute illness. This review will provide a critical appraisal of research on cardiovascular damage in convalescent adult COVID-19 patients with an emphasis on the use of CMR and its value to our understanding of organ damage.