Severe Sinus Bradycardia in Puumala virus infection

Abstract

Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) is the most prevalent of the four species of zoonotic hantaviruses found in Europe, causing nephropathia epidemica, a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with acute kidney injury that presents with elevated serum creatinine level, proteinuria and hematuria. The febrile phase of the infection begins with flu-like syndrome and visual disturbance. Laboratory results can show thrombocytopenia. The oliguric phase with elevated serum creatinine level then occurs. Cardiac involvement is sometimes observed, especially ECG abnormality: transient T-waves inversion, generally in the lateral or inferior leads. Marked bradycardia has been exceptionally described. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with acute PUUV infection. Two days after admission, the patient presented a sinus bradycardia at 25/min. The bradycardia was asymptomatic, persisted one week and resolved spontaneously. Cardiac involvement in Puumala virus infection seems not to be associated with a bad prognosis. Bradycardia in the course of an influenza-like illness in endemic areas should suggest several pathogens such as legionella, Q fever or PUUV virus infection.

Keywords: Bradycardia; France; Hantaviruses; Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; Puumala virus.