Abstract
Although enteroviral infections have been associated with myocarditis, the importance of subclincal myocardial dysfunction (MD) caused by enteroviruses (EV) has not been investigated. From 7/83 through 9/85 we prospectively studied, for evidence of MD, hospitalized pts <16 mo of age whose illnesses were compatible with EV infection. Viral and bacterial cultures were submitted for all pts. EKG and M-mode echocardiograms (EC) were obtained within 48 hours of admission. Of the 52 pts studied, 20 had positive cultures for non-polio EV, 9 additional pts had aseptic meningitis with negative cultures, and the remainder had febrile illnesses consistent with EV. Left ventricular shortening fraction (LVSF) was <27% in 6/52 pts (4 with positive EV cultures). EC for 12 healthy control infants <6 mo old showed LVSF ≥30%. None of the 52 pts showed clinical or EKG evidence of MD. EC performed 2 weeks after hospitalization demonstrated improved LVSF in 3/6 pts who had shown MD initially. These data indicate that subclinical MD is a frequent complication of EV infection, and neither physical examination nor EKG is adequate for its detection.
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Tristram, D., McMillan, J., Weiner, L. et al. INVESTIGATION OF MYCARDIAL DYSFUNCTION IN INFANTS HOSPITALIZED WITH ENTEROVIRAL INFECTION. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 336 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01016
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-01016