ENTEROVIRAL INFECTION - A MAJOR CAUSE OF IDIOPATHIC DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

The purpose of this preliminary study was to detect enteroviral infect ion in the myocardium of 18 patients suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Enteroviral RNA was detected in endomyocardial tissue by means of retrotranscription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern-blotting. The myocardial biopsy specimens were t aken during heart transplantation in 18 patients with idiopathic dilat ed cardiomyopathy and 18 healthy donors. Specimens from 11 (61 %) of t he 18 patients were positive for enteroviral RNA, whereas control spec imens (myocardial specimens from 18 healthy donors) yielded no evidenc e of enteroviral RNA. This preliminary study suggests that the enterov iral persistence in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy could be a major cause of the disease.