Correlation between virus persistent infection and cardic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Virology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a significant cause of heart failure.
• Persistent viral infections, particularly enteroviruses like coxsackievirus B, are implicated in DCM pathogenesis.
• The role of viral persistence and specific cellular receptors in DCM requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of persistent coxsackie virus B-RNA (CVB-RNA) in DCM patients.
• To examine the expression levels of the coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) in DCM patients and its correlation with viral infection and cardiac function.
• To assess the potential of CAR as a biomarker for persistent viral infection in DCM.

Main Methods:

• Fifty DCM patients and a control group were analyzed.
• Coxsackie virus B-RNA (CVB-RNA) presence was detected using molecular methods.
• Expression levels of coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) were quantified.
• Cardiac function was assessed by measuring brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd).

Main Results:

• 44% of DCM patients were CVB-RNA positive, compared to 20% in controls (P<0.05).
• CAR expression was significantly higher in DCM patients than in controls (P<0.01).
• CVB-RNA positive patients exhibited higher CAR expression than CVB-RNA negative patients (P<0.01).
• CAR expression positively correlated with BNP levels but not with LVEF or LVEDd.

Conclusions:

• Persistent CVB-RNA infection is prevalent in DCM.
• Elevated CAR expression is associated with persistent viral infection and cardiac dysfunction in DCM.
• CAR expression on white blood cells serves as a potential indicator for detecting persistent viral infections in DCM.