Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy after arbovirus infections (dengue and chikungunya fever)

Abstract

The varying clinical features and sequelae in 10 patients suffering from myocarditis after dengue and chikungunya fever caused by arboviruses are described. These patients had significantly raised antibody levels in the serum and gave a recent history of 'dengue-like' fever. A few patients had a favourable outcome with disappearance of symptoms, improvement in the electrocardiogram, and no residual cardiomegaly. Others had persistent symptoms, electrocardiographic changes, and cardiomegaly which suggested a transition to cardiomyopathy, a chronic cardiac disorder. It seems likely that arbovirus infections play a significant role in the aetiology of the cardiomyopathies which are common in Ceylon.