Respiratory syncytial virus and heart disease. A report of two cases.

Two patients had cardiac disease and serological evidence for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The first patient had myocarditis and complete atrioventricular heart block with repeated syncopal episodes two weeks following infection. The second patient had alcoholic cardiomyopathy and worsening congestive heart failure associated with RSV infection. The significance of RSV infection in these two patients may bear a significant relationship to sudden infant death syndrome, chronic cardiomyopathy, and alcohol-related heart disease. Cardiac disease secondary to RSV infection may be more prevalent than is presently recognized.