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Cardiac findings in leptospirosis

Kinjal Shah1, Gayathri P Amonkar, Rima N Kamat

  • 1Department of Pathology, T N Medical College and B Y L Nair Hospital, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, India. drkinjal_shah@hotmail.com

Journal of Clinical Pathology
|February 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Leptospirosis significantly impacts the heart, with myocarditis found in 96% of cases. This cardiac involvement, though often asymptomatic, may contribute to disease severity and mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Pathology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cardiac involvement in leptospirosis, including ECG changes and myocarditis, is recognized but often underestimated.
  • This study aimed to comprehensively analyze cardiac alterations in leptospirosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the extent and nature of cardiac involvement in fatal cases of leptospirosis.
  • To correlate cardiac findings with the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of leptospirosis.

Main Methods:

  • Examination of 24 hearts from patients deceased due to leptospirosis.
  • Inclusion of detailed gross and light microscopic pathological analysis.

Main Results:

  • Myocarditis was a prevalent finding, present in 96% of the studied cases.
  • Endocardial inflammation was observed in 50% of cases and linked to vasculitis.
  • Vasculitis was identified as the primary pathogenetic mechanism contributing to cardiac inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Leptospirosis causes significant, often subclinical, cardiac involvement that can increase morbidity and mortality.
  • The potential for developing dilated cardiomyopathy as a long-term sequela of severe leptospirosis-induced myocarditis warrants further investigation.
Abstract

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