Coxsackie B virus antibodies in myocardial infarction

• Published in: Acta medica Scandinavica Vol. 214; no. 1; p. 29
• Main Authors: Nikoskelainen, J, Kalliomäki, J L, Lapinleimu, K, Stenvik, M, Halonen, P E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 01.01.1983
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Viral - isolation & purification; Antigens, Viral - analysis; Coxsackievirus Infections - complications; Enterovirus B, Human - immunology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction - immunology; Myocardial Infarction - microbiology; Prospective Studies
• ISSN: 0001-6101
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1983.tb08566.x

Evidence for the association between Coxsackie B virus infections and myocardial infarction was studied in a prospective follow-up examination. Using the micro neutralization test, 9 (15%) of 59 patients with acute myocardial infarction and 1 (2.6%) of 38 control patients showed a fourfold, or higher, antibody increase in paired serum samples against Coxsackie B1-5 viruses. This difference is significant (p less than or equal to 0.05). None of the patients or controls revealed symptoms of a viral infection during the blood sampling. Virus isolation from throat and feces was negative in all patients and controls. This finding agrees with some previous studies suggesting that the Coxsackie B group may in some cases have a causal role in myocardial infarction, or may act as a triggering factor.