ABSTRACT
Infection with influenza type A virus may cause serious cardiovascular complications, such as myocarditis, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction. Also infection with influenza type AH1N1 may contribute to aggravation of cardiac disorders, i.e. acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, severe ventricular arrythmias. One of the most fatal complication of influenza is pneumonia leading to acute respiratory insufficiency requiring artifitial ventilation. Symptoms of respiratory tract infections durnig influenza epidemy should always be treated with a high index of suspicion. Early diagnosis and adequate antiviral treatment may prevent those complications. A series of four cases of patients hospitalised in intensive cardiac care unit due to suspected cardiac dyspnea and finally diagnosed as a cardiac disease complicated by influenza pneumonia is presented.
Subject(s)
Cross Infection/complications , Cross Infection/diagnosis , Heart Diseases/etiology , Influenza A virus , Influenza, Human/complications , Influenza, Human/diagnosis , Respiratory Tract Infections/etiology , Aged , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Cardiology Service, Hospital , Comorbidity , Female , Heart Diseases/diagnosis , Humans , Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype , Influenza, Human/drug therapy , Intensive Care Units , Male , Respiratory Tract Infections/diagnosis , Respiratory Tract Infections/drug therapyABSTRACT
Carbon monoxide (CO) exposure is a common cause of unintentional poisoning. Clinical manifestation usually involve central nervous and cardio-vascular systems as brain and heart are very sensitive to hypoxia. Myocardial infarction pathogenesis during CO intoxication is complex. Generalised tissue hypoxia and increased thrombotic tendency may play an important role. A case of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction following CO poisoning in a 58-year-old male is presented.
