Abstract
Although enteroviral (EV) infections have been associated with myocarditis, the potential for these agents to cause subclinical myocardial dysfunction (MD) has not been studied. From 7/1/83, until 10/31/83, we prospectively studied all hospitalized pts under 2 years of age whose illnesses were compatible with EV infection (22 pts) to determine if those pts had clinical, electrocardiographic,or echocardiographic evidence of MD. CSF, rectal swab, and NP swab specimens were cultured for virus, and CSF, blood and urine specimens were sent for bacterial culture. Electrocardiograms (EKG) and echocardiograms (EC) were obtained within 48 hours of admission. Five pts were culture positive for EV (2 with Echo 11, 1 with Echo 14, 1 with Coxsackie A9, and 1 untyped EV). Four of the 5 pts had EKG and EC as described above,and 2 of those 4 pts had EC evidence of MD:1 pt had subnormal left ventricular ejection fraction, and 1 pt had a pericardial effusion. Two additional pts had systemic bacterial infections, 1 of whom had EC changes. None of the 22 pts had clinical or EKG evidence of MD. Of the 15 pts with presumed EV infections whose viral and bacterial cultures were negative, 11 were studied with EKG and EC; 1 pt had decreased left venticular ejection fraction. These data demonstrate that subclinical MD is a frequent complication of EV illness, and that neither physical examination nor EKG is adequate for its detection.
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Strauss, R., Kavey, RE. & McMillan, J. MYOCARDIAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHILDREN WITH ENTEROVIRAL ILLNESS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 286 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01161
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01161