Pericardial Histopathology and COVID-19 Seropositivity

This prospective study aims to investigate the association between pericardial histopathologic inflammation grades (acute, chronic, or absent) and COVID-19 seropositivity in adult patients undergoing first-time isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Pericardial tissue samples were collected during surgery and evaluated histopathologically, while preoperative COVID-19 serological testing was performed. The primary outcome is to determine whether COVID-19 seropositivity is associated with the severity of pericardial inflammation. Patients with prior cardiac surgery, active COVID-19 infection, systemic inflammatory diseases, chronic immunosuppressive therapy, or malignancy were excluded from the study.