Myocardial injury in children with respiratory syncytial virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is associated with a number of extrapulmonary manifestations, including a sepsis-like syndrome characterized by any combination of hypothermia, fever, apnea, hypovolemia, and myocardial dysfunction. We hypothesized that RSV can have a direct injurious effect on the myocardium of infants and children that can be detected by the presence of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a highly sensitive and specific marker of myocardial injury, in the blood of patients infected with the virus.


METHODS
Serial cTnI measurements were obtained from patients admitted with documented RSV infection to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).


METHODS
Data were collected and analyzed from 22 RSV infected patients and 11 control patients.


RESULTS
Elevated levels of cTnI were detected in 54.5% (12/22) of the study population during their PICU admission. The average cTnI level was significantly higher in the RSV infected group than in controls. There was a significant association between the presence of a positive troponin assay and the occurrence of a cardiovascular event, the need for inotropic support, and the requirement of mechanical ventilation. Patients who required inotropic support had a significantly higher cTnI level than the rest of the study population.


CONCLUSIONS
A large percentage of children admitted to the PICU with RSV infection have myocardial damage as detected by the use of commercially available troponin assays. Additionally, in a portion of these patients, this damage is clinically significant, leading to cardiovascular instability and the need for inotropic support.
Checchia
P A
PA
Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Appel
H J
HJ
Kahn
S
S
Smith
F A
FA
Shulman
S T
ST
Pahl
E
E
Baden
H P
HP