Fulminant myocarditis associated with pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus

Fulminant myocarditis associated with influenza A virus is exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. We describe a previously healthy 10-year-old boy, with a three-day history of flu-like symptoms without antiviral treatment. He was hospitalized with dehydration and hypothe...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marta Cabral, Maria J. Brito, Marta Conde, Mário Oliveira, Gonçalo C. Ferreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2012-07-01
Series:Revista Portuguesa de Cardiologia (English Edition)
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S217420491200116X
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Summary:Fulminant myocarditis associated with influenza A virus is exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature. We describe a previously healthy 10-year-old boy, with a three-day history of flu-like symptoms without antiviral treatment. He was hospitalized with dehydration and hypothermia in the context of persistent vomiting, when he suddenly developed heart failure secondary to fulminant myocarditis. Despite aggressive management, including circulatory support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation measures, the patient died of cardiogenic shock. The postmortem histopathology was compatible with a multisystem viral infection with myocarditis and pulmonary involvement, and H1N1v polymerase chain reaction was positive.The prevalence of influenza-associated fulminant myocarditis remains unknown. Findings reported in the literature raise the possibility that the novel H1N1 influenza A virus is more commonly associated with a severe form of myocarditis than previously encountered influenza strains. Resumo: A miocardite fulminante associada ao vírus Influenza A é extremamente rara, com apenas alguns casos relatados na literatura. Descrevemos um rapaz de 10 anos, previamente saudável, com história de sintomas gripais com 3 dias de evolução, sem terapêutica antiviral. Foi internado por desidratação e hipotermia, no contexto de vómitos persistentes após o que, subitamente, desenvolveu insuficiência cardíaca secundária a miocardite fulminante. Apesar da intervenção imediata, incluindo suporte circulatório e reanimação cardiorrespiratória, o doente faleceu por choque cardiogénico. O exame histopatológico post-mortem foi compatível com o diagnóstico de infecção viral multissistémica, com miocardite e envolvimento pulmonar e a PCR para o H1N1 v foi positiva.A prevalência de miocardite fulminante associada ao vírus Influenza permanece desconhecida. Relatos na literatura levantam a hipótese de o vírus Influenza A H1N1 estar mais frequentemente associado a formas graves de miocardite do que as estirpes sazonais anteriores. Keywords: Influenza, H1N1, Fulminant, Myocarditis, Palavras-chave: Influenza, H1NI, Fulminante, Miocardite
ISSN:2174-2049