Incidence, Patient Characteristics and Outcome of Myocarditis After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine (MACIS)

Considering previous reports of cardiovascular adverse events, passive surveillance might not identify all myocarditis/myopericarditis cases after COVID-19 vaccination and it is possible that a mild/subclinical myocarditis might be much more prevalent in the population. This research project has three aims: first, provide novel insights regarding the incidence, patient characteristics and outcome of myocarditis. Second, provide a safety net by active surveillance for myocarditis, allowing early initiation of appropriate therapy. Third, provide reassurance to the public regarding myocarditis, as questions have been raised by critics of the pharmaceutical industry that Phase III studies performed by the pharmaceutical industry may have not appropriately captured adverse events.

This study is screening persons undergoing the COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccination of possible development of myocarditis. This approach in detecting myocarditis would help early initiation of the right treatment under close monitoring of the clinical course. Furthermore, this kind of study might also help understand the development of myocarditis and possibly the reasons for sex differences. Myocarditis suspicion is raised when patients present symptoms of acute chest discomfort, myalgia, fever/chills, abnormal ECG, increased concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), possibly supported by signs of cardiac inflammation in cMRI (myocardial oedema, myocardial/pericardial late gadolinium enhancement, pericardial effusion). Since the study is performed on health care professionals working in the University Hospital Basel, it is able to monitor more closely the possible side effects of the mRNA vaccination. Consecutive individuals that received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine booster and undergo a systematic approach to detect myocarditis at the University Hospital Basel will be included.