Updated 28/08/2026
Photo: MRI room, by U.S. Department of Agriculture · Public domain / CC0 · Source
Plain-language summary of research published in the Georgian Medical Journal. Written for the general public by the GMJ News editorial team.
A 54-year-old woman developed chest pain and palpitations a full year after her COVID-19 infection had resolved. A case report in the Georgian Medical Journal documents how her workup led to a diagnosis clinicians might easily miss: myocarditis that presented as if it were fresh, more than a year after the virus that likely triggered it was gone.
A Presentation That Mimicked Heart Disease
The patient, with a family history of ischaemic heart disease, presented with chest pain and palpitations. Echocardiography showed mild left ventricular dysfunction, and exercise stress testing revealed deep T-wave inversions — an ECG pattern that typically raises suspicion for coronary artery disease. Inflammatory markers were elevated (ESR 39 mm/h, CRP 24.6 mg/L).
The Test That Changed the Diagnosis
Coronary angiography — the test that would confirm or rule out blocked arteries — came back completely normal. That negative result, combined with the clinical picture, prompted cardiac MRI, which fulfilled diagnostic criteria for remote myocarditis: heart muscle inflammation that had happened at some point in the past, consistent with a delayed COVID-19-related cardiac complication rather than active coronary disease.
At a glance — the headline figures.
ECG showing deepening T-wave inversion during exercise stress testing. Figure from the case report. Source: Georgian Medical Journal, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026), DOI: 10.66636/gmj.v1.i2.a95.
The report’s clinical lesson is about timing and index of suspicion: COVID-19-associated myocarditis can present remotely — months to over a year after the acute infection — mimicking angina with ischaemic-looking ECG changes, even when the coronary arteries themselves are completely clean. The authors argue for a structured diagnostic pathway including cardiac MRI specifically when coronary anatomy is normal but cardiac symptoms persist, and for clinicians to keep post-COVID myocarditis on the differential long after the acute infection is a distant memory.
Read the Original Research
Original article: The Heart Damage That Arrives After COVID Leaves
Published in: Georgian Medical Journal, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026)
DOI: 10.66636/gmj.v1.i2.a95
📄 Read the full article at gmj.ge →
Georgian Medical Journal (GMJ) · ISSN 3088-4322 · gmj.ge · Open Access CC BY 4.0 · Published by the Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG). This summary is an independent editorial product of GMJ News; for clinical decisions, consult the original peer-reviewed article and a qualified professional.
Was this article helpful?
Disclaimer. This article is health journalism intended for general information and education. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your individual circumstances. Full disclaimer →
Related Coverage
Editorial standards. This article was produced under the GMJ News editorial process, with oversight by the GMJ Editorial Board. Our editorial process. Spotted an error? Contact the editorial team.
