[Relationship between enteroviral infection and dilated cardiomyopathy]

To investigate the role of enteroviral infection in the patho genesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), we used the nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to detect enteroviral RNA in 21 myocardial specimens and 17 peripheral blood samples from patients with DCM and 21 patients (controls) with cerebral trauma. Enteroviral RNA was detected in 9 of 21 myocardial tissues and 6 of 17 blood samples, whereas all controls myocardial samples were negative. In addition, antibodies of coxsackievirus group B were detected in 4 of the 17 patients with DCM by neutralization test. The present study suggested that DCM might be associated with persistent enteroviral infection.