Premature Neonate With Subclinical Myocarditis Born to a Mother With COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report

In December 2019, COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 appeared in China and then spread to many countries. Like many other medical conditions, infection with SARS CoV-2 would cause complications during pregnancy and severe illness in pregnant women.

Case Report: 

We reported a premature neonate (31 weeks gestational age, weight 1700 g) with subclinical myocarditis born to a mother with COVID-19. Her mother had no symptoms and confirmed infection with SARS CoV-2 during pregnancy. Four days after delivery, the mother was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. The neonate had positive C-Reactive Protein (CRP), elevated cardiac enzymes, and lymphopenia but negative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction assays (real-time PCR). Her subclinical myocarditis was treated with Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) and inotrope. We did not use antiviral therapy in medical treatment. The neonate was discharged 3 weeks after admission with normal cardiac biomarkers enzyme levels and cardiac function in echocardiography. Her follow-up chest x-ray after two weeks was also normal.

It seems that subclinical myocarditis can be a complication of COVID-19 in neonates, and this infection could also cause preterm labor in infected pregnant women. Since clinical data on COVID-19 in newborns are still very limited, it is essential to check all the potential complications for pregnant women and their newborns, including cardiac complications.