Published online Jun 28, 2021. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v9.i3.286
Peer-review started: April 4, 2021
First decision: May 13, 2021
Revised: May 30, 2021
Accepted: July 7, 2021
Article in press: July 7, 2021
Published online: June 28, 2021
Processing time: 98 Days and 20.6 Hours
Dengue viral infection (DVI) is one of the world’s most significant viral infections spreading. Most of the patients have been asymptomatic, with relatively benign clinical manifestations and outcomes. However, a small number of patients have progressed to severe dengue diseases, including hemorrhage, multi-organ impairment, and increased vascular leakage causing hypovolemic shock, which can cause cardiovascular collapse and death. Numerous lines of evidence have demonstrated that DVI could also cause cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, and severe myocarditis. The treatment for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients remains symptomatic and supportive, with close monitoring of hemodynamic status. The contributory role of cardiac dysfunction in DHF patients has potentially critical implications on the management. This review will address the current knowledge of cardiac involvement in DHF patients and the management strategy to reduce the fatality outcome.
Core Tip: The majority of dengue virus infections (DVIs) are mild; only a small number of the patients develop overt complications and fatal outcomes. Dengue can also have cardiac involvement, including myocardial dysfunction, cardiac rhythm abnormality, and myocarditis which can implicate severe dengue disease and dengue shock syndrome. Fulminant dengue myocarditis has evidence of extensive cardiomyocyte infection and damage, with an abnormality of electrocardiography, echocardiography, and accompanied by elevated cardiac markers. Early recognition of cardiac involve