September 11, 2020

Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Findings in Competitive Athletes Recovering From COVID-19 Infection

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Setting

Keywords (Tags): clinical characteristics, sports

• Among 26 competitive college athletes who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 11-53 days earlier and had not require hospitalization, 4 (15%) had cardiac MRI findings suggestive of myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and 8 (31%) athletes exhibited late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) without T2 elevation, suggestive of prior myocardial injury. Cardiac ventricular function was within normal ranges for all athletes, as measured by cardiac MRI and transthoracic echocardiogram. The authors suggest that cardiac MRI may be a useful tool to risk-stratify athletes for return to competitive sports participation following recovery from COVID-19.

Rajpal et al. (Sept 11, 2020). Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Findings in Competitive Athletes Recovering From COVID-19 Infection. JAMA Cardiology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2020.4916