Reports of cardiac muscle inflammation after corona vaccinations have been around for a long time. The US health authority CDC has now presented figures.
US experts see a connection to the so-called mRNA vaccines in hundreds of cases of myocardial inflammation after a corona vaccination “probably” at. This conclusion is suggested by the data so far, it said on Wednesday at a presentation in an expert group convened by the US health authority CDC. The benefits of vaccination against the coronavirus would reduce the risks, however “clearly predominate”. There should also be a new warning for the vaccines.
The experts examined the suspicion that the mRNA vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna could occasionally cause inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the pericardium (pericarditis) in young people. To do this, they evaluated data on more than 300 confirmed myocarditis cases in adolescents and young adults who had recently been vaccinated against corona with an mRNA vaccine.
“Myocarditis is a rare but not a new disease”explained pediatric cardiologist Matthew Oster. So far it is assumed that the disease is usually caused by viruses. “It seems that the mRNA vaccines may be a new trigger”said Oster.
SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach also commented on the CDC numbers on Twitter. Accordingly, the course is very harmless in 95 percent of the cases. Covid disease also affects children “significantly more frequent and more severe complications”, so Lauterbach.
Most cases after the second dose of vaccine
Up until June 11, those under 30 years of age had been diagnosed with myocarditis or pericarditis after a corona vaccination. The US health authority announced that almost 150 suspected cases were still being examined. This contrasts with well over 50 million vaccine doses that were previously administered to twelve to 29-year-olds. The number of diseases is therefore relatively low, but higher than would be expected for this age group.
309 of the patients had to be hospitalized, where nine are currently being treated. At least 218 patients had fully recovered from their symptoms by the time the data was collected. Most cases occurred in young men and within a week of the second dose of vaccine. In young women, the risk was significantly less increased after the second dose of vaccine. So far there has not been a confirmed death.
CDC chief Rochelle Walensky said last week that these cases were “Rare” and “the vast majority” the person concerned got himself “fully recovered with rest and supportive treatment”.
Since children are much less likely to get seriously ill with Covid-19, corona vaccinations are sometimes controversial in this age group. The head of the department for infectious diseases in children at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York, Lorry Rubin, pointed out to the AFP news agency that since the pandemic began, more than 3,000 children in the US have been hospitalized for Covid-19 and more than 300 have died be.
Myocarditis – what is it?
When myocarditis is inflamed, cells in the muscle tissue of the heart, the so-called myocardium, become inflamed. Heart muscle inflammation is therefore also known as myocarditis in technical terms. The trigger can be, for example, a dragged-out flu or a previous infection of the gastrointestinal tract with viruses. In principle, however, other triggers are also possible.
According to the German Heart Foundation, people who do not take it easy long enough after an infection are particularly at risk of developing myocarditis. “So do not return to sports activities after an infection until you are really feeling fit again”, is it[called
Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, or cardiac arrhythmias such as palpitations. In principle, however, the inflammation can also cause unspecific symptoms or no symptoms. The course can vary greatly depending on the person. If symptoms such as fatigue last longer than usual after an infection or are particularly severe, a doctor should always be consulted.
Regardless of the severity of the disease, those affected should take it easy. “Doctors recommend avoiding vigorous physical exertion for six months”, writes the German Heart Foundation. More severe forms of myocarditis can also be treated with drugs that stabilize the heart’s pumping function and reduce inflammation.
