MONTGOMERY COUTNY, Va. (WRIC) — Scientists at Virginia Tech have discovered a connection between some viral infections and their effect on the heart.
Traditionally, the focus has been on myocarditis, or heart inflammation, which is often triggered by the body’s immune response to a viral infection.
A new study led by James Smyth, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, has revealed that the virus itself creates potentially dangerous conditions in the heart before inflammation sets in, according to a university spokesperson.
“Given the high incidence of viral-related myocarditis leading to sudden cardiac death, the insight is crucial,” said a spokesperson for the university. “Up to 42% of sudden cardiac deaths in young adults are attributed to myocarditis and of these cases, viral infection is the leading cause.”
The discovery could lead to completely new directions to diagnose and treat viral infections affecting the heart.
“From a clinical perspective, our understanding of viral infection of the heart has focused on inflammation, causing problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat,” Smyth said. “But we have found an acute stage when the virus first infects the heart and before the body’s immune response causes inflammation. So even before the tissue is inflamed, the heart is being set up for arrhythmia.”
The study is now online and set to appear in the March 29 issue of Circulation Research.
