Could Zika Affect the Heart?

By Kelly Young

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

The Zika virus may be tied to heart problems, suggests a small case series being presented at next week's American College of Cardiology meeting.

Researchers in Venezuela studied nine people with confirmed Zika infection who had cardiovascular manifestations. All of the patients were free of cardiovascular problems before infection, with the exception of one patient who had controlled hypertension.

After Zika infection, eight of the nine patients had arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation; paroxysmal and persistent, nonsustained tachycardia; and ventricular arrhythmias. Six had heart failure.

Other flaviviruses, like dengue, are known to affect cardiac function. The authors say it's not known how Zika might affect those with preexisting cardiovascular disease.