Re: COXSACKIE B VIRUS, PALPITATIONS

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on January 30, 1999 at 10:21:19:

In Reply to: COXSACKIE B VIRUS, PALPITATIONS posted by KEVIN M. on January 29, 1999 at 18:12:12:






I HAVE BEEN HAVING PALPITATIONS ACCOMPANIED BY FATIGUE AND SOME LIGHTHEADEDNESS  FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD NORMAL EKG READINGS AND AN ECHO SHOWED NO ABNORMALITIES EITHER. MY LAST EKG WAS ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND THE ECHO WAS DONE ABOUT 6-7 WEEKS AGO. MY CARDIOLOGIST HAS NOW FOUND THE PRESENCE OF THE COXSACKIE B VIRUS AND BELIEVES THIS TO BE THE CAUSE. HE HAS TOLD ME THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AS THE INFECTION SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY FOUGHT OFF, HE EXPECTS THE PALPITATIONS TO SUBSIDE, OR AT WORST NOT DEVELOP INTO A MORE SERIOUS CONDITION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO CONTACT HIM IF THE SYMPTOMS CONTINUE OR BECOME MORE SEVERE.
                  I DID SOME READING ON THE SUBJECT AND AM A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS THAT CAN RESULT FROM THIS INFECTION, MYOCARDITIS AND HEART FAILURE BEING THE MOST SERIOUS. MY DOCTOR HAS ASSURED ME THAT THER IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT DUE TO MY NORMAL EKG AND ECHO, I ALSO HAD A 24 HR HOLTER WHICH RECORDED 90-100 PALPITATIONS BUT NO ABNORMALITIES OTHER THAN THAT.
                   DO YOU THINK, AS MY DOCTOR SAYS, THAT THIS WILL NOT DEVELOP INTO A MORE SERIOUS CONDITION? IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF IT WORSENING, WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS AT THIS POINT?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.
KEVIN M.
                
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Kevin
I do not understand why the blood tests looking for Cocksackie virus were done in the first place - this is not a routine test. Most cases of Cocksackie virus do not cause any heart trouble. Some cases of myocarditis have been linked to prior infection with Cocksackie virus in the preceding weeks or months. I am not worried about your developing heart failure or myocarditis, as the chance of that happening is small. However, the combination of palpitations and lightheadedness worries me. You should see a cardiologist who specializes in palpitations (cardiac electrophysiologist).
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.