Abstract
Background: The classic ST-segment elevations seen in a STEMI can similarly be found during an episode of acute pericarditis, making the two entities difficult to distinguish. The incidence of post-myocardial infarction injury syndromes presenting with findings such as acute pericarditis is estimated to be around 3%. Prompt seek of medical care is pivotal in successful outcomes, which has been affected during the pandemic. Case: A 30-year-old female with a past medical history of uncontrolled type 1 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity presented with a 24-hour long history of non-radiating chest pain. Upon interrogation she endorsed that initially she delayed her coming presentation to the hospital because of fears of contracting coronavirus. Physical examination showed tachycardia and tachypnea. EKG demonstrated diffuse ST elevations in the anterolateral leads concerning for a STEMI, PR-segment depressions on most leads and troponin elevation to 0.09 ng/ml. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) echocardiogram showed significant anterolateral wall hypokinesis. Decision making: Given her high cardiovascular risk factors the patient was urgently taken to the catheterization laboratory which found a 100% ostial left anterior descending artery and a large left main coronary artery thrombus. The thrombus was initially treated with mechanical thrombectomy and the plaque with a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a drug-eluding stent to the proximal LAD. In the days following her PCI, the patient continued to endorse sporadic sharp chest pain with the same characteristics as on presentation. Post-PCI transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated ejection fraction of 20-25% and a small pericardial effusion. She was started on colchicine for pericarditis. She was discharged home on dual antiplatelet therapy with close follow up. Conclusion: Given that our patient had clinical pericarditis before her presentation to the hospital with a STEMI, it is unlikely that her pericarditis was due to a post myocardial infarction syndrome. Delayed presentation to the hospital associated with fear of contracting or spreading COVID-19 is a silent collateral culprit that adds up to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality during this pandemic.