Background: Left ventricular compromise in the neonate may be caused by birth asphyxia, metabolic disease, congenital heart disease, and systemic bacterial or viral infections. In rare cases, enterovirus infection may cause severe disease including cardiac, cerebral, hepatic and multi organ failure.
Patients and methods: Case report.
Results: A 3-week-old neonate was admitted to our NICU in cardiogenic shock and severe lactic acidosis (ph: 6.9; serum lactate: 15 mmol/l, base excess: -19.8 mmol/l; pCO (2): 54.9 mm Hg). Serum troponin T was within the normal range; serum total creatinin phosphokinase was 57 U/l, CK-MB 110 U/l, LDH 762 U/l; pro-BNP: 64391 pg/ml was elevated. On echocardiography left ventricular function was depressed with a shortening fraction of 16%. The neonate was started on inotropes. There was gradual improvement over the following two weeks with normalisation of left ventricular output. PCR examination was positive for enterovirus. Other causes for left ventricular compromise (congenital heart disease, inborn errors of metabolism, etc.) were ruled out by adequate means.
Conclusions: Enterovirus infection as a cause for myocarditis and cardiogenic shock should be taken into the differential diagnosis in neonates.
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