Myocardial damage in severe sunburn

Abstract

The article presents an intriguing clinical case of myocarditis in a 36-year-old patient following severe sunburn. The disease developed with a pronounced pain syndrome, a significant increase in high-sensitivity troponin levels, and notable changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG). These factors complicated the differential diagnosis between acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction without coronary obstruction) and myocarditis. The rapid regression of clinical symptoms, normalization of myocardial injury biomarkers, atypical ECG dynamics for myocardial infarction, and the absence of coronary artery changes during angiography—alongside magnetic resonance imaging data revealing no areas of ischemic changes but showing inflammatory changes and myocardial edema—contributed to a diagnosis of myocarditis. Dynamic observation two months post-diagnosis indicated no deviations from standard indicators. The article also reviews literature on the mechanisms of myocardial damage associated with sunburn, which differ significantly from those seen in thermal and chemical burns. The authors suggest that severe sunburn is the most likely etiological factor for the observed damage, highlighting the potential for injury not only to the skin but also to internal organs.