Proof of SARS-CoV-2 genomes in endomyocardial biopsy with latency after acute infection
Heiko Pietsch, Felicitas Escher, Ganna Aleshcheva, Christian Baumeier, Lars Morawietz, Albrecht Elsaesser, Heinz‐Peter Schultheiß
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has reached pandemic levels. Cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 have been reported frequently, however evidence for a causal relationship has not been established. This report describes the detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes in a patient with symptoms of heart failure, in whom endomyocardial biopsy was investigated following a latency period of 4 weeks after the onset of pulmonary symptoms. The viral infection was accompanied by myocardial inflammation indicating an infection of the heart muscle.