Researchers demonstrate that viral infections present early risks to the heart
A new study led by James Smyth, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, has revealed insights into fatal viral infections impacting the heart, suggesting that the virus initiates potentially hazardous conditions in the heart even before inflammation occurs.
Fatal viral infections can induce heart disease through various mechanisms. Firstly, some viruses can directly infect heart cells, leading to myocarditis and weakening of the heart muscle. Additionally, viral infections can provoke an exaggerated immune response, resulting in systemic inflammation and damage to blood vessels, thereby increasing the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
Viral infection accounts for the majority of myocarditis cases, leading to up to 42 percent of sudden cardiac deaths in young adults and due to this high occurrence of viral-related myocarditis resulting in sudden cardiac death, the insights are crucial.
"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. 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." said Smyth.
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