BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a virulent viral infection that affects a number of organs and systems. This study examined if SARS may result in cardiovascular complications. METHODS AND RESULTS: 121 patients (37.5 (SD13.2) years, 36% male) diagnosed to have SARS were assessed continuously for blood pressure, pulse, and temperature during their stay in hospital. Hypotension occurred in 61 (50.4%) patients in hospital, and was found in 28.1%, 21.5%, and 14.8% of patients during the first, second, and third week, respectively. Only one patient who had transient echocardiographic evidence of impaired left ventricular systolic function required temporary inotropic support. Tachycardia was present in 87 (71.9%) patients, and was found in 62.8%, 45.4%, and 35.5% of patients from the first to third week. It occurred independent of hypotension, and could not be explained by the presence of fever. Tachycardia was also present in 38.8% of patients at follow up. Bradycardia only occurred in 18 (14.9%) patients as a transient event. Reversible cardiomegaly was reported in 13 (10.7%) patients, but without clinical evidence of heart failure. Transient atrial fibrillation was present in one patient. Corticosteroid therapy was weakly associated with tachycardia during the second (chi(2) = 3.99, p = 0.046) and third week (chi(2) = 6.53, p = 0.01), although it could not explain tachycardia during follow up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SARS, cardiovascular complications including hypotension and tachycardia were common but usually self limiting. Bradycardia and cardiomegaly were less common, while cardiac arrhythmia was rare. However, only tachycardia persisted even when corticosteroid therapy was withdrawn.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a virulent viral infection that affects a number of organs and systems. This study examined if SARS may result in cardiovascular complications. METHODS AND RESULTS: 121 patients (37.5 (SD13.2) years, 36% male) diagnosed to have SARS were assessed continuously for blood pressure, pulse, and temperature during their stay in hospital. Hypotension occurred in 61 (50.4%) patients in hospital, and was found in 28.1%, 21.5%, and 14.8% of patients during the first, second, and third week, respectively. Only one patient who had transient echocardiographic evidence of impaired left ventricular systolic function required temporary inotropic support. Tachycardia was present in 87 (71.9%) patients, and was found in 62.8%, 45.4%, and 35.5% of patients from the first to third week. It occurred independent of hypotension, and could not be explained by the presence of fever. Tachycardia was also present in 38.8% of patients at follow up. Bradycardia only occurred in 18 (14.9%) patients as a transient event. Reversible cardiomegaly was reported in 13 (10.7%) patients, but without clinical evidence of heart failure. Transient atrial fibrillation was present in one patient. Corticosteroid therapy was weakly associated with tachycardia during the second (chi(2) = 3.99, p = 0.046) and third week (chi(2) = 6.53, p = 0.01), although it could not explain tachycardia during follow up. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SARS, cardiovascular complications including hypotension and tachycardia were common but usually self limiting. Bradycardia and cardiomegaly were less common, while cardiac arrhythmia was rare. However, only tachycardia persisted even when corticosteroid therapy was withdrawn.
Authors: Paul A Rota; M Steven Oberste; Stephan S Monroe; W Allan Nix; Ray Campagnoli; Joseph P Icenogle; Silvia Peñaranda; Bettina Bankamp; Kaija Maher; Min-Hsin Chen; Suxiong Tong; Azaibi Tamin; Luis Lowe; Michael Frace; Joseph L DeRisi; Qi Chen; David Wang; Dean D Erdman; Teresa C T Peret; Cara Burns; Thomas G Ksiazek; Pierre E Rollin; Anthony Sanchez; Stephanie Liffick; Brian Holloway; Josef Limor; Karen McCaustland; Melissa Olsen-Rasmussen; Ron Fouchier; Stephan Günther; Albert D M E Osterhaus; Christian Drosten; Mark A Pallansch; Larry J Anderson; William J Bellini Journal: Science Date: 2003-05-01 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: Christian Drosten; Stephan Günther; Wolfgang Preiser; Sylvie van der Werf; Hans-Reinhard Brodt; Stephan Becker; Holger Rabenau; Marcus Panning; Larissa Kolesnikova; Ron A M Fouchier; Annemarie Berger; Ana-Maria Burguière; Jindrich Cinatl; Markus Eickmann; Nicolas Escriou; Klaus Grywna; Stefanie Kramme; Jean-Claude Manuguerra; Stefanie Müller; Volker Rickerts; Martin Stürmer; Simon Vieth; Hans-Dieter Klenk; Albert D M E Osterhaus; Herbert Schmitz; Hans Wilhelm Doerr Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-04-10 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Nelson Lee; David Hui; Alan Wu; Paul Chan; Peter Cameron; Gavin M Joynt; Anil Ahuja; Man Yee Yung; C B Leung; K F To; S F Lui; C C Szeto; Sydney Chung; Joseph J Y Sung Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-04-07 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Thomas G Ksiazek; Dean Erdman; Cynthia S Goldsmith; Sherif R Zaki; Teresa Peret; Shannon Emery; Suxiang Tong; Carlo Urbani; James A Comer; Wilina Lim; Pierre E Rollin; Scott F Dowell; Ai-Ee Ling; Charles D Humphrey; Wun-Ju Shieh; Jeannette Guarner; Christopher D Paddock; Paul Rota; Barry Fields; Joseph DeRisi; Jyh-Yuan Yang; Nancy Cox; James M Hughes; James W LeDuc; William J Bellini; Larry J Anderson Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-04-10 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: J S M Peiris; C M Chu; V C C Cheng; K S Chan; I F N Hung; L L M Poon; K I Law; B S F Tang; T Y W Hon; C S Chan; K H Chan; J S C Ng; B J Zheng; W L Ng; R W M Lai; Y Guan; K Y Yuen Journal: Lancet Date: 2003-05-24 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Christl A Donnelly; Azra C Ghani; Gabriel M Leung; Anthony J Hedley; Christophe Fraser; Steven Riley; Laith J Abu-Raddad; Lai-Ming Ho; Thuan-Quoc Thach; Patsy Chau; King-Pan Chan; Tai-Hing Lam; Lai-Yin Tse; Thomas Tsang; Shao-Haei Liu; James H B Kong; Edith M C Lau; Neil M Ferguson; Roy M Anderson Journal: Lancet Date: 2003-05-24 Impact factor: 79.321