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Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling
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[Patho- and morphogenesis of infectious myocarditis]

V A Maksimov, A A Baliabin, V P Dygin

    Kardiologiia
    |October 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    Infectious myocarditis in mice causes early heart damage, progressing to inflammation and cardiosclerosis. Human studies reveal immune system dysfunction and antibodies against heart tissue in patients with infectious myocarditis.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiovascular pathology
    • Immunology
    • Infectious diseases

    Background:

    • Infectious myocarditis is a serious condition affecting the heart.
    • Understanding the pathogenesis of infectious myocarditis is crucial for effective treatment.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the pathological changes and immune responses in infectious myocarditis.
    • To elucidate the pathogenesis of infectious myocarditis.

    Main Methods:

    • Experimental infection of white mice with various pathogens (influenza virus, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus).
    • Histopathological examination of cardiac tissue at different time points.
    • Immunological assays in human patients, including detection of cardiac antigen, anticardiac antibodies, blast transformation tests, and T cell counts.
    • Coons's method to detect antibodies against myocardial and connective tissue structures.

    Main Results:

    • Early (2-3 days) toxic vascular, stromal, and cardiomyocyte damage observed in mice, followed by inflammation and cardiosclerosis foci by 3-4 weeks.
    • Immune disorders in human patients included cardiac antigen in 24%, anticardiac antibodies in 22%, positive blast transformation tests in 7.5%, and reduced T cells.
    • Late-stage staphylococcal angina patients showed antibodies to myocardial (45.7%) and connective tissue (36.1-31.4%), with some exhibiting myocarditis signs.

    Conclusions:

    • Infectious agents induce significant cardiac damage and inflammation, leading to cardiosclerosis.
    • Immune system dysregulation, including autoantibody production, plays a role in the pathogenesis of infectious myocarditis.
    • A proposed scheme for the pathogenesis of infectious myocarditis integrates these findings.

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