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Virus infection of the heart--unmet therapeutic needs

Mark Hazebroek1, Robert Dennert, Stephane Heymans

  • 1Department of Cardiology, CARIM, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Antiviral Chemistry & Chemotherapy
|February 2, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Viral infections trigger myocarditis and heart failure, posing diagnostic and treatment challenges. Differentiating viral from non-viral causes guides new therapies like immunoglobulin for viral heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Viral infections are long-recognized triggers of acute myocarditis, inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and congestive heart failure.
  • Diagnosing and treating viral heart disease remains a significant clinical challenge.
  • Advances in diagnostics have improved understanding of myocarditis pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis, focusing on parvovirus B19.
  • To discuss the progression from viral myocarditis to inflammatory DCM.
  • To explore emerging treatment strategies for viral heart disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on viral myocarditis and inflammatory DCM.
  • Analysis of pathogenesis, diagnostic challenges, and therapeutic advancements.
  • Emphasis on parvovirus B19 as a specific etiological agent.

Main Results:

  • Viral damage, inflammation, and autoimmune dysregulation are key in myocarditis.
  • Distinguishing virus-positive from virus-negative inflammatory DCM is crucial.
  • Novel treatments like IV immunoglobulin and interferon show promise for virus-positive cases.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding viral myocarditis pathogenesis is vital for effective treatment.
  • Parvovirus B19 is a significant cause of inflammatory DCM.
  • Future strategies will likely involve targeted therapies based on viral etiology.

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