Virus myocarditis: molecular hybridization allows the detection of virus-RNA in heart muscle after virus infection.
In most patients with virus myocarditis, the diagnosis is still based on clinical data alone. Endomyocardial biopsies subjected to electron microscopy, immunofluorescence techniques and virus isolation procedures provide additional, but only occasionally conclusive information. In this communication we describe a new method which could possibly be used to improve the diagnostic possibilities in patients with suspected virus myocarditis. The method is based on the hybridization of radioactive complementary nucleotide sequences to virus-RNA. It is shown that in an experimental model (reovirus infected baby mice) this method can be used to demonstrate the virus infection of cardiac muscle. It is suggested that the method could be adapted to other viruses (e.g. coxsackie virus) and to endomyocardial biopsies derived from patients with suspected virus myocarditis.
Zähringer
J
J
Stangl
E
E
Aschauer
W
W
Van der Walt
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D012089:Mammalian orthoreovirus 3 / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
D012367:RNA, Viral