Treatment of heart rhythm disturbances associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection with anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract

Publications regarding cardiac arrhythmias associated with the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) focus primarily on the high prevalence and symptoms of this complication. We have not found any studies on the specific treatment of arrhythmias associated with SARS-CoV2, since a standard therapeutic approach is probably implied. This observation describes a series of cases of various cardiac arrhythmias that occurred against the background of acute COVID-19 and were treated with anti-inflammatory, but not antiarrhythmic drugs. The cases are united by the occurrence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, the connection of relapses with inflammation symptoms, as well as the effectiveness of therapy with the main classes of anti-inflammatory drugs. A narrative review of the literature provides the rationale for the inflammatory theory of arrhythmias and sets the stage for discussion about how to integrate differentially anti-inflammatory drugs into the treatment regimen of such patients.