Pfizer and its partner BioNTech have finally released the results of clinical trials exploring whether their COVID-19 vaccine causes subclinical heart inflammation. The companies found that multiple vaccine recipients suffered heart-related symptoms, but said none met the definition of myocarditis, or heart inflammation.
Researchers with the companies and other institutions analyzed the levels of troponin I, a sign of possible heart damage, in children aged 5 to 30 before and after receipt of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. They also monitored participants for heart-related symptoms, including chest pain. If patients suffered symptoms, doctors examined them and researchers performed other tests, such as an electrocardiogram, as well as additional troponin measurements.
