Coxsackie B viruses and heart muscle disease in Nigerian adults.

In 44 Nigerians with heart muscle disease, the percentage of patients who had a fourfold rise or fall to at least one of the Coxsackie B viruses was greater than controls. Patients with heart muscle disease also had significantly higher levels of antibody titres. Antibodies to Coxsackie viruses B2, B3 and B6 were more frequent in their sera than in controls. While these results do not prove a Coxsackie B viral aetiology it is concluded that these viruses could be the cause of cardiac damage and heart failure in some Nigerians. It could also be one of the many adverse factors which produce repeated myocardial damage and thus weaken the heart to the point of failure.