Molecular detection and serotypic analysis of enterovirus RNA in archival specimens from patients with acute myocarditis

Br Heart J. 1995 Nov;74(5):522-7. doi: 10.1136/hrt.74.5.522.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether enterovirus RNA can be demonstrated in archival necropsy material in acute myocarditis.

Design: Analysis of paraffin embedded myocardial tissue from cases of acute myocarditis.

Setting: University virology department.

Methods: Extraction of RNA from tissue followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis.

Patients: Six patients with histologically proven myocarditis and eight controls.

Results: Enterovirus RNA was identified in 5 of 6 patients with myocarditis and in none of the controls. The nucleotide sequences of the PCR products showed greatest similarity to group B coxsackieviruses, particularly coxsackievirus B3.

Conclusion: This study indicates that archival tissue samples, even histologically stained tissue sections, can be used to study the role of enteroviruses in myocardial disease using molecular detection techniques. If a predominant role for coxsackievirus B3 in myocarditis is confirmed by further study, this may have implications for the development of a specific vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Base Sequence
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Enterovirus / classification
  • Enterovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Enterovirus Infections*
  • Female
  • Heart / virology
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myocarditis / virology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • RNA, Viral / analysis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • RNA, Viral