COVID-19 serology-based testing in pericarditis: a case report

Recently published studies have shown that cardiac complications are not uncommon in patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease. We describe the case of a 55-year-old female presenting with chest pain after having had influenza-like symptoms. Chest computed tomography showed a circumferential pericardial effusion, confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction. The nasopharyngeal swab was negative, but the use of a rapid test identified COVID-19 antibodies, revealing the infectious cause of the pericarditis.