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Coxsackievirus-induced myocarditis: new trends in treatment

Zhen Liu1, Ji Yuan, Bobby Yanagawa

  • 1Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular & Pulmonary Research, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
|August 19, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Viral myocarditis, a heart condition in young people, lacks effective treatments. Emerging therapies target virus entry, replication, and immune response, offering new hope for patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Myocarditis is a significant inflammatory heart condition in children and young adults.
  • Coxsackievirus B3 is identified as the primary cause of viral myocarditis.
  • Current treatments for viral myocarditis are predominantly supportive, lacking targeted antiviral efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and discuss emerging therapeutic strategies for viral myocarditis.
  • To explore novel treatments targeting viral entry, replication, and host immune responses.
  • To examine the potential of cellular cardiomyoplasty as an end-stage therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current and emerging treatments for viral myocarditis.
  • Analysis of antiviral agents targeting virus entry (e.g., pleconaril, CAR-Fc).
  • Evaluation of nucleic acid-based therapies (e.g., antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, short interfering RNA) and immunomodulatory agents (e.g., interferons).

Main Results:

  • Several promising therapeutic candidates are emerging, including direct antiviral agents and immunomodulatory drugs.
  • Novel strategies involve modulating signal transduction pathways and enzyme inhibitors.
  • Cellular cardiomyoplasty shows potential for end-stage treatment, with preliminary clinical trials underway.

Conclusions:

  • The landscape of viral myocarditis treatment is evolving with diverse therapeutic approaches.
  • Targeting viral entry, replication, and immune modulation offers promising avenues for treatment.
  • Cellular cardiomyoplasty represents a potential future therapy for advanced cases of myocarditis.

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