Immunity status against coxsackie viruses B in 25 patients with acute myocarditis

Roum Arch Microbiol Immunol. 2006 Jul-Dec;65(3-4):109-12.

Abstract

Viruses are an important cause of myocarditis, particularly the enterovirus group B coxsackievirus. Viral infection may be suspected on the basis of history and presentation and can be proved by direct or serological identification of virus. Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with acute myocarditis and were investigated with a serologic test battery covering Coxsackie viruses group B types 1 to 5 at the National Reference Center for Enteroviruses in Cantacuzino Institute Bucharest, Romania. A possible Coxsakie B virus etiology could be documented in 11 from 25 cases with acute myocarditis and high titers against Coxsackie virus B type 2 (1 patient), type 3 (5 patients) and type 5 (in 4 patients) were detected. In one HIV positive patient (17 years old), a concomitant infection with Coxsackie virus B types 2 and 4 was detected. The earlier detection of enterovirus myocarditis could be followed by antiviral therapies with a potential therapeutic role.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Child
  • Enterovirus B, Human / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocarditis / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral