Table 1

Main clinical, histological and molecular characteristics of 13 patients with drug-resistant CSX

Variables12345678910111213
Age, years55575947635247684245442857
SexFFFFFMFMMFFFM
Time to symptom onset (months)581381612796108712
Flu-like syndromeYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNo
Drug treatment
Beta-blockersYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesNoYesYesNo
Calcium antagonistsNoNoYesNoNoYesNoYesNoYesNoNoYes
NitratesYesNoNoYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNo
ACE inhibitorsNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYes
StatinsNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesNoNoNoNoYes
Xanthine derivativesNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
ImipramineYesNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoYesYesNo
Histology
Fibrosis (%)6.5654.55.36.57.33.96.46.67.885.5
Myocyte degenerationYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Focal myocarditisYesNoNoNoNoNoYesNoYesNoNoNoNo
Viral agent (PCR)
Whole myocardial tissueAVNoNoNoNoEBVEBVEBVAV/EBVAVEBVHHV-6AV
Laser microdissection
 CardiomyocytesAVEBVEBVEBVAV/EBVAVEBVNoAV
 Small vesselsAVEBVEBVEBVAV/EBVAVEBVHHV-6AV
  • AV, adenovirus; CSX, cardiac syndrome X; EBV, Epstein–Barr virus; EDD, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter; EF, left ventricular ejection fraction; HHV-6, human herpes virus 6.