Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-45l2p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T00:29:20.848Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Respiratory syncytial virus and complete heart block in a child

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2010

Samuel Menahem*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Monash Heart, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia
*
Correspondence to: Professor Samuel Menahem, MD, FRACP, FACC, FCSANZ, Department of Paediatrics, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton Vic 3168, Melbourne, Australia. Tel: 61 3 95942242; Fax: 61 3 95091333; E-mail: samuel.menahem@southernhealth.org.au

Abstract

The common respiratory syncytial virus has been associated with cardiac involvement, usually tachyarrhythmias and occasionally myocarditis. A child is described who probably developed a complete heart block following respiratory syncytial bronchiolitis. Such an association needs to be considered if the heart is structurally normal and there is no evidence of a congenital heart block in a setting of maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Armstrong, DS, Menahem, S. Cardiac arrhythmias as a manifestation of acquired heart disease in association with paediatric respiratory syncytial virus infection. J. Paediatr Child Health 1993; 29: 309311.Google Scholar
2.Menahem, S, Uren, EC. Respiratory syncytial virus and heart block – cause and effect. Aust NZ J Med 1985; 15: 5557.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Eisenhut, M. Extrapulmonary manifestations of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection – a systematic review. Crit Care 2006; R107.Google Scholar
4.Giles, TD, Gohd, RS. Respiratory syncytial virus and heart disease. A report of two cases. JAMA 1976; 236: 11281130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Donnerstein, RL, Berg, RA, Shebab, Z, Ovadia, M. Complex atrial arrhythmias and respiratory syncytial virus infections in infants. J Paediatr 1994; 125: 2328.Google Scholar
6.Eisenhut, M, Sidaras, D, Johnson, R, Newland, P, Thorburn, K. Cardiac troponin T levels and myocardial involvement in children with severe respiratory syncytial virus lung infection. Acta Paediatr 2004; 93: 887890.CrossRefGoogle Scholar