title: Pulmonary edema of enterovirus 71 encephalomyelitis is associated with left ventricular failure: implications for treatment.
abstract: Epidemics of enterovirus 71 infections caused the rapid death of many children in Malaysia in 1997 and in Taiwan in 1998. Pulmonary edema occurred in most of the fatal cases and was considered to be neurogenic. The role of the heart was rarely investigated before. Between January 1998-January 2001, 34 consecutive patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit due to enterovirus infection were studied prospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: group I with pulmonary edema, and group II without pulmonary edema. Comparisons were made between the two groups based upon demographic, neurological, and cardiovascular manifestations. Group I consisted of 11 patients (5 boys, 6 girls; mean age, 22.8 months), and group II of 23 patients (12 boys, 11 girls; mean age, 28.8 months). There were no significant differences between the two groups in comparing sex, age, body weight, neurological severity, intracranial pressure, cell count, protein and glucose levels in cerebral spinal fluid, and blood pressure. All group I patients had left ventricular dysfunction, and their ejection fractions were significantly lower than those of patients in group II (37 +/- 11% vs. 75 +/- 6%, P < 0.001). Group I heart rates were higher than those of group II (175 +/- 24 vs. 137 +/- 25, P < 0.001). In group I, 9 patients who received conventional treatment died, and the only two survivors received left ventricular assist devices. In conclusion, the pulmonary edema of fulminant enterovirus 71 infection is associated with left ventricular failure. Left ventricular function is the major determinant of outcome. Early recognition of heart failure and aggressive cardiac intervention are life-saving. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:263-268.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yun-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Ching-Shiang
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Sheng-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Teh-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Po-Yen
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Guan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chieh-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Betau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Shih-Lan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000150:complications*; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications*