Coxsackie B virus in the etiology of heart diseases in Delhi
Gupta, H.L.; Khare, S.; Biswas, A.; Chattopadhya, D.; Kumari, S.
Journal of Communicable Diseases 27(4): 223-228
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5138 PMID: 8866986 Document Number: 453522
Coxsackie B group of viruses have been long considered as the precipitating factor in heart diseases. Their association with various heart diseases especially pericarditis, myocarditis and myopericarditis is known, but now their association is also known with cardiomyopathy and ischaemic heart diseases. A study was carried out on 87 patients suffering from various heart diseases and the role of Coxackie B virus infection was studied. The study included 25 control subjects. Thirty patients (34.5%) were found to be having high antibody titre for at least one of coxsackie B virus group with coxsackie B-3 and B-4 being the two Commonest types. Serum IgM immunoglobulins were raised in acute infective disorders like pericarditis, myocarditis and myopericarditis but IgG, IgA and IgM levels were normal in ischaemic heart diseases and cardiomyopathy.