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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Is a Virus of the Heart Contagious?
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Is a Virus of the Heart Contagious?
by Mary__0__0, Nov 24, 1998 12:00AM
I need information about whether viruses of the heart are contagious.
A friend of mine was diagnosed with a "virus of the heart". He died 11 weeks later. He was placed on the list to receive a donor heart and obviously never got it.
To date, his doctors are unable to diagnose the type of virus that he contracted. He had a pump placed in his chest and all was well. Blood flow was good. He was supposed to get better and wait for a heart. But he never seemed to come out of the surgery for thepump placement. He contracted pneumonia which they were able to get under control. His whole body was grotesquely swollen. The virus then moved to his kidneys. The kidneys eventually failed. Then his liver was next on the list to go.
Could these types of viruses be transmitted through exchange of body fluids such as saliva or semen?
Tissue samples were taken after he died in order to determine the type of virus. I realize I can wait for the autopsy report but I thought I'd ask here.
Your prompt reply is appreciated.
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Dear Mary,
Thank you for your question and I can understand your concern. The answer to your question is that these viruses are not transmitted between individuals. I am sorry to hear of your friends death. You can rest easy that you will not contract the same thing.
I hope you find this information helpful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
