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Coxsackie virus infection in association with heart affection in man
A Petrovicová1, J Cervenka, A Egnerová
1Research Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
Insights
Actual coxsackie virus infections were found in 46.3% of adult heart disease patients. Coxsackie B1 and B4 were the most common types, suggesting a role in heart disease etiology.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Coxsackie viruses are known to cause various human illnesses.
- A link between coxsackie virus infections and heart disease has been suspected.
- Understanding the prevalence of specific coxsackie virus types in heart patients is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of actual coxsackie virus infections in adult patients hospitalized with heart disease.
- To identify the specific coxsackie virus types most commonly associated with heart disease.
- To investigate the antibody profiles in patients with coxsackie virus infections and heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Selected coxsackie virus types (B1-B6, A7, A9) were tested in hospitalized adult patients.
- Actual coxsackie virus infection was defined by a significant rise in virus-neutralizing antibodies and/or presence of virus-specific IgM antibodies.
- Patient sera were compared to healthy blood donors as a control group.
Main Results:
- Actual coxsackie virus infection was confirmed in 71 (46.3%) of 153 patients.
- Coxsackie B1 virus infection was most frequent (24 cases), followed by B4 (17 cases).
- Patients with coxsackie virus infections showed higher antibody prevalence against multiple coxsackie virus types.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of adult heart disease patients have evidence of active coxsackie virus infection.
- Coxsackie B1 and B4 viruses are frequently implicated in these cases.
- Repeated infections with different coxsackie virus types may play a role in the development of heart disease.
Abstract:
The frequency of actual infections by selected types of coxsackie virus (B1-B6, A7, A9) has been followed up in adult patients hospitalized for reason of heart disease. Criteria of actual coxsackie virus infection have been defined, including a significant rise of titer of virus neutralizing antibodies and/or presence of virus-specific IgM antibodies. An actual coxsackie virus infection has been found in 71 (46.3%) out of 153 patients. Most frequently coxsackie B1 virus infection (24 times) and B4 (17 times) could be proved. In sera of patients with actual coxsackie virus infection, a higher proportion of infection with some types of coxsackie viruses, along with the presence of antibodies against a larger number of coxsackie virus types has been found, as compared to sera from patients without actual coxsackie virus infection, and/or, in sera of healthy blood donors (control group). The role of repeated infections with different types of coxsackie virus in the etiology of heart disease has been discussed.