
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Differentiating COVID-associated myocarditis from other Diseases
Introduction

Overview
Overview
COVID-19-associated myocarditis must be differentiated from other causes of dyspnea and chest pain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, ventricular dysfunction such as including Acute Coronary Syndrome, Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) and Heart failure.
Differential Diagnosis
Differential Diagnosis
COVID-19-associated myocarditis must be differentiated from other causes of dyspnea and chest pain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, ventricular dysfunction such as including acute coronary syndrome, stress-induced cardiomyopathy (takotsubo cardiomyopathy) and heart failure.
| Diseases | Symptoms | Physical Examination | Diagnostic tests | Other Findings | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyspnea on Exertion | Chest Pain | Hemoptysis | Fever | Tachypnea | Tachycardia | Chest X-ray | ECG | Echocardiography | CT scan and CMR | ||
| COVID-19-associated myocarditis | β | β | – | β | β | β |
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Increased cardiac troponin level |
| COVID-19-associated myocardial infarction | β | β | – | β(Low-grade) | β/- | β/- |
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– |
Increased cardiac troponin levels |
| COVID-19-associated stress cardiomyopathy | β | β | – | – | β | β |
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Increased cardiac troponin and pro-BNP level, transient increase in catecholamine levels. |
| COVID-19-associated heart failure | β | – | β | – | β | β |
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Increased NT-proBNP and cardiac troponins levels |
| COVID-19-associated pneumonia | β | β (Pleuritic) | β | β (Usually high) | β | β |
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– | Increased inflammatory markers, including ESR, hs-CRP | ||
| COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome | β | – | β | β | β | β |
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– |
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– | |
| COVID-19-associated pulmonary embolism | β (Usually sudden-onset) | β (Pleuritic) | β (If massive PE) | β (Low-grade) | β | β |
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References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mounika Reddy Vadiyala, M.B.B.S.[2]
