Zika infections may cause cardiac conditions in infected individuals with no history of cardiac disease, according to a new study covered by HealthDay and presented March 9 at the American Heart Association meeting in Portland, Ore.
Clinicians at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Caracas, Venezuela — an area hard hit by the Zika epidemic — observed symptoms related to cardiac illness in nine patients infected with Zika. Symptoms included heart palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath and occurred alongside symptoms previously identified as Zika-related, like rash, fever and conjunctivitis. Only one of the patients had previously experienced a heart-related condition, which was high blood pressure and was reportedly well managed.
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After conducting a number of heart tests and screenings, researchers found evidence suggesting inflammation of the heart wall, otherwise known as myocarditis. It is unclear how Zika is affecting the heart, but mosquito-borne illnesses have previously been linked to cardiac issues, according to HealthDay.
While there is currently no way to know how common these heart issues are in relation to Zika, researchers suggest physicians should consider electrocardiograms for Zika-infected patients.
"This is the first time we've considered that cardiovascular disease may be associated with Zika," said Martha Gulati, MD, chief of cardiology at the University of Arizona-Phoenix, during the study presentation, according to HealthDay. "But it certainly is hard to determine the prevalence when we only know who came to that specific clinic. It would be important for us to collect this data long-term."
HealthDay noted the research shared at the meeting represented preliminary findings and should be considered as such until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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