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Myocarditis: a rare complication during Legionella infection
S Armengol1, C Domingo, E Mesalles
1Servei de Cures Intensives, Hospital Universitari Germans Trías i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
International Journal of Cardiology
|December 1, 1992
Insights
Legionella bacteria can affect the heart, causing cardiac legionellosis and myocarditis. This heart inflammation may be more common in Legionnaires
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Legionella bacteria are known to cause systemic illness.
- The clinical presentation of Legionnaires' disease has expanded.
- Cardiac involvement in Legionella infections was first documented in 1981.
Observation:
- Systemic manifestations are common in Legionella infections.
- Cardiac legionellosis, specifically myocarditis, represents a recognized clinical entity.
- Few cases of Legionnaires' disease-associated myocarditis have been reported historically.
Findings:
- Myocardial involvement may occur in patients with Legionnaires' disease.
- The frequency of cardiac legionellosis might be underestimated in the broader context of Legionnaires' disease.
- Legionella can present with diverse clinical symptoms, including cardiac complications.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider cardiac involvement in Legionnaires' disease diagnosis.
- Further research is warranted to determine the true prevalence of cardiac legionellosis.
- Expanding the differential diagnosis for myocarditis to include Legionella infections is crucial.
Abstract:
Legionella often causes systemic manifestations. The clinical spectrum now includes cardiac legionellosis. The first case of myocarditis was reported by Gross in 1981. To date few additional cases have been described. Myocardial involvement might be more frequent than supposed in legionnaires' disease.