RESPIRATORY VIRUSES AND HEART DISEASE

Abstract

The clinical features of 21 cases of viral myocarditis and 2 cases of viral pericarditis due to respiratory viruses are presented. Etiology was identified by appropriate serological tests in eight cases and by the exclusion of other etiologies in the 15 remaining cases. The latter were designated as presumptive. A brief review of the literature pertaining to respiratory viruses as agents of heart disease follows. The points of clinical similarity of certain obscure diseases of the heart, e.g. endocardial fibroelastosis, post portal heart disease and "Isolated" myocarditis are compared and the possible relationship of viruses to these diseases is discussed.