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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: does it involve the heart?

Aynur Engin1, Mehmet Birhan Yilmaz, Nazif Elaldi

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Cumhuriyet University, School of Medicine, 58140 Sivas, Turkey. aynurum2000@yahoo.com

International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
|November 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Severe Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) cases exhibit impaired cardiac function, including reduced ejection fraction and increased pulmonary artery pressure. These cardiac complications are associated with fatality in CCHF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe viral illness with a high mortality rate.
  • The pathogenesis and causes of death in CCHF remain incompletely understood.
  • Cardiac involvement in CCHF is not well-characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate cardiac functions in patients diagnosed with CCHF.
  • To identify potential cardiac markers associated with CCHF severity and mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of confirmed CCHF cases in Turkey (2007).
  • Cardiologic evaluation and transthoracic echocardiography within 24 hours of hospitalization.
  • Classification of patients into 'severe' and 'non-severe' CCHF groups.

Main Results:

  • 44 confirmed CCHF cases; 17 (38.6%) were severe.
  • Severe CCHF cases showed lower left ventricular ejection fraction, higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and more pericardial effusion.
  • Fatal cases had significantly impaired cardiac function compared to survivors.

Conclusions:

  • Impaired cardiac function is associated with severe and fatal outcomes in CCHF.
  • Potential mechanisms include direct viral invasion or endothelial damage to cardiac structures.
  • Clinicians should consider cardiac complications in CCHF management.
Abstract

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