Fulminant dengue myocarditis masquerading as acute myocardial infarction

Int J Cardiol. 2009 Aug 21;136(3):e69-71. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.05.023. Epub 2008 Aug 13.

Abstract

Dengue fever is manifested by a sudden onset of fever (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fever), with severe headache, myalgias (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myalgia), arthralgias (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthralgia) and characteristic bright red petechia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petechia). The exact incidence and pathophysiological mechanism of dengue myocarditis remain obscure, but most of these cases are self-limiting. Fatal dengue myocarditis is a very rare complication of dengue fever. The non-specific symptoms and signs of dengue myocarditis make early diagnosis difficult. A 25-year-old Indian male, suffered from fulminant dengue myocarditis, presented to a our hospital with symptoms and electrocardiographic features mimicking acute myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, the patient succumbed before the dengue serology results were available.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Dengue / complications*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrocardiography
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Myocarditis / diagnosis*
  • Myocarditis / virology*
  • Severity of Illness Index