Which virus is commonly associated with viral myocarditis?

Which virus is commonly associated with viral myocarditis?

• A. HIV
• B. Influenza A
• C. Coxsackievirus
• D. Hepatitis B

Answer: (C)

Viral myocarditis is most classically linked to enteroviruses that readily infect the heart, especially Coxsackie B virus. It causes direct injury to cardiac myocytes and triggers a robust inflammatory response, which can lead to chest pain, arrhythmias, or heart failure in more severe cases. Among the options, Coxsackievirus has the strongest association with myocarditis due to its tropism for myocardial tissue and its ability to induce both direct cytopathic damage and immune-mediated injury. While HIV can be associated with cardiomyopathy and influenza can occasionally cause myocarditis, they are not the classic culprits for viral myocarditis. Hepatitis B primarily targets the liver and is not a common cause of myocarditis.

Viral myocarditis is most classically linked to enteroviruses that readily infect the heart, especially Coxsackie B virus. It causes direct injury to cardiac myocytes and triggers a robust inflammatory response, which can lead to chest pain, arrhythmias, or heart failure in more severe cases. Among the options, Coxsackievirus has the strongest association with myocarditis due to its tropism for myocardial tissue and its ability to induce both direct cytopathic damage and immune-mediated injury. While HIV can be associated with cardiomyopathy and influenza can occasionally cause myocarditis, they are not the classic culprits for viral myocarditis. Hepatitis B primarily targets the liver and is not a common cause of myocarditis.