Doctors tie Zika virus to heart problems in some adults in small study - March 9, 2017

[sharon sanders]

Mar 9, 2:15 PM EST

DOCTORS TIE ZIKA VIRUS TO HEART PROBLEMS IN SOME ADULTS


snip

She studied nine patients, ages 30 to 64, treated at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Caracas who developed heart symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath and fatigue an average of 10 days after typical Zika symptoms began.
Only one had any prior heart-related problem - high blood pressure that was under control with medications - and all had lab tests confirming Zika infection. They were given extensive heart tests and were studied for an average of six months, starting last July.
Eight of the nine developed a dangerous heart rhythm problem, and six of the nine developed heart failure, which occurs when a weakened heart can't pump enough blood.

more...

http://staging.hosted.ap.org/dynamic...03-09-14-15-45

[sharon sanders]

Session 1250 - Emerging Developments in HFpEF and Arryhthmias

1250-293 / 293 - Myocarditis, Heart Failure and Arrhythmias in Patients With Zika

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March 18, 2017, 3:45 - 4:30 PM

Poster Hall, Hall C

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Authors Karina Auristela Gonzalez Carta, Ivan Mendoza, Igoor Morr, Ivan Mendoza, Francesca Misticchio, Yolimar Meza, Vicente Finizola, Gerardo Chazzin, Juan Marques, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Caracas, Venezuela Abstract Backround: Zika virus infection is a mosquito-borne disease that has caused an explosive pandemic throughout the Americas. Local transmission has been found in USA; there are no reports of cardiovascular (CV) manifestation of Zika. This study sought to describe the occurrence of CV involvement of Zika.
Methods: We enrolled 9 cases of Zika from a Venezuelan outbreak who had exhibited CV manifestations in a prospective observational multicenter study. Clinical, ECG, laboratory (including virological studies), Rx, echocardiogram, Holter and cMRI evaluation were performed.
Results: Of the 9 patients, 6 were female with a mean age of 47 ? 17 years. Arrhythmias were detected in 8 patients including acute atrial fibrillation in 3 cases, 2 paroxysmal and 1 persistent, non-sustained atrial tachycardia in 2 patients and ventricular arrhythmias in 2 patients. Heart failure was present in 6 cases, 5 with low ejection fraction (EF), and one with preserved EF, with pre-eclampsia and moderate to severe pericardial effusion.
Conclusion: This is the first report of cardiac involvement in patients with Zika. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of cardiac manifestations. Studies are needed to define the incidence of myocarditis systematically.

http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4223/presentation/35844

hat tip @greg_folkers for the link