title: Varicella myopericarditis mimicking acute myocardial infarction with ARDS - A rare association in an immunocompetent young adult.
abstract: Primary varicella infection in an immunocompetent young adult is very rare, but it has a high mortality rate due to serious complications. We report a rare association of varicella pneumonia presenting in acute respiratory distress with mild chest pain, however with electrocardiographic and biochemical markers suggestive of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography was done to exclude infarction, serum antibody titers confirmed varicella, acyclovir was started, and ARDS was successfully treated with steroid pulse therapy and mechanical ventilator support. Early administration of antivirals and aggressive management of ARDS were thought to be necessary to overcome the potential life-threatening complications of varicella infection in adults. This case illustrates that not every MI is really MI.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Cardiology, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India. Electronic address: cmayuresh24@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mayuresh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Cardiology, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Sonu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Cardiology, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Ramandeep Singh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.affiliation: Head of Department, Department of Cardiology, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bansal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D000072657:ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Myocardial infarction; Myopericarditis; Varicella