Gill et al.'s profound case series on the autopsy histopathologic cardiac findings in 2 Adolescents (one in Connecticut and one in Michigan) Following the Second mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Dose (Pfizer)

by Paul Alexander

The myocardial injury seen in these postvaccine hearts is different from typical myocarditis and has an appearance most closely resembling a catecholamine-mediated stress (toxic) cardiomyopathy.

SOURCE:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35157759/

 

For this series, Gill et al. report the autopsy ‘microscopic cardiac findings in adolescent deaths that occurred shortly following administration of the second Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 dose to determine if the myocarditis described in these instances has the typical histopathology of myocarditis.’

The design involved the ‘clinical and autopsy investigation of 2 teenage boys who died shortly following administration of the second Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 dose.’

Gill et al. report that the microscopic examination revealed features ‘resembling a catecholamine-induced injury, not typical myocarditis pathology.’

‘The myocardial injury seen in these postvaccine hearts is different from typical myocarditis and has an appearance most closely resembling a catecholamine-mediated stress (toxic) cardiomyopathy.

Understanding that these instances are different from typical myocarditis and that cytokine storm has a known feedback loop with catecholamines may help guide screening and therapy.’