COVID-19, Cardiovascular Diseases and Cardiac Troponins

Authors

Chan W. Kim, Cardiology Department, & The Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center & New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Wilbert S. Aronow, Cardiology Department, & The Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center & New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

Author Type(s)

Faculty

Journal Title

Future Cardiology

First Page

135

Last Page

142

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2022

Department

Medicine

Abstract

There has been strong evidence of myocardial injury in COVID-19 patients with significantly elevated serum cardiac troponin (cTn). While the exact mechanism of injury is unclear, possible suggested pathological mechanisms of injury are discussed. These include increased susceptibility of the myocardium and endothelium to viral invasion, underlying hyperinflammatory state and subsequent cytokine storm, a hypercoagulable and prothrombotic state, and indirect myocardial injury due to hypoxemia. As a result of these pathological mechanisms in COVID-19 patients, cTn may be elevated largely due to myocarditis, microangiopathy or myocardial infarction. The utility of cTn as a biomarker for measuring myocardial injury in these patients and assessing its ability as a prognostic factor for clinical outcome is also discussed.

Recommended Citation

Kim, C. W., & Aronow, W. S. (2022). COVID-19, Cardiovascular Diseases and Cardiac Troponins. Future Cardiology, 18 (2), 135-142. https://doi.org/10.2217/fca-2021-0054