Sudden death of an immunocompetent young adult caused by novel (swine origin) influenza A/H1N1-associated myocarditis

• Verfasst von: Gdynia, Georg [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Schnitzler, Paul [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Brunner, Eva [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kandolf, Reinhard [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Bläker, Hendrik [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Daum, Edith [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Schnabel, Philipp Albert [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Schirmacher, Peter [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Roth, Wilfried [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Sudden death of an immunocompetent young adult caused by novel (swine origin) influenza A/H1N1-associated myocarditis
• Verf.angabe: Georg Gdynia, Paul Schnitzler, Eva Brunner, Reinhard Kandolf, Hendrik Bläker, Edith Daum, Philipp Schnabel, Peter Schirmacher, Wilfried Roth
• E-Jahr: 2011
• Jahr: 14 January 2011
• Umfang: 6 S.
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 21.09.2023
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Virchows Archiv
• Ort Quelle: Berlin : Springer, 1847
• Jahr Quelle: 2011
• Band/Heft Quelle: 458(2011), 3 vom: März, Seite 371-376
• ISSN Quelle: 1432-2307
• DOI: doi:10.1007/s00428-010-1035-0
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: H1N1
• Sach-SW: Myocarditis
• Sach-SW: Novel influenza A
• Sach-SW: Swine flu
• K10plus-PPN: 186016613X

Abstract

The main cause of death from novel (swine origin) influenza A/H1N1 infection is acute respiratory distress syndrome. Most fatal cases are immunocompromised patients or patients with a severe underlying disease. Here, we report a fatal case of acute interstitial myocarditis associated with novel influenza A/H1N1 infection in an immunocompetent young woman. A previously healthy 18-year-old woman experienced malaise, diarrhea, and fever for several days prior to a sudden collapse at home. Autopsy revealed a predominantly lymphocytic myocarditis in the absence of a significant respiratory tract infection. Infection with novel (swine origin) influenza A/H1N1 was confirmed by PCR analysis of blood as well as myocardial tissue. Influenza-caused diarrhea with consecutive hypokalemia potentially contributed to the fatal outcome of the myocarditis, characterized by ventricular fibrillation. In conclusion, sudden death by myocarditis may be a rare complication of novel influenza A/H1N1 infection in otherwise healthy individuals, even in the absence of significant respiratory tract infection.