Cardiac complications are often seen in severe or fatal cases of influenza.. These problems can include electrical failures, scarring of heart tissue, and even heart failure.. This makes influenza infections particularly dangerous for people with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.. Older patients, already at increased risk of severe influenza infections, are also more likely to have pre-existing cardiovascular disease.

Seasonal influenza is the leading cause of death in the population. The CDC estimates that up to 52,000 deaths and 41,000,000 infections occur each year in the United States alone.. Although vaccines are effective in preventing the spread and reducing the severity of infection, influenza research remains important..

Heart-related complications of influenza were previously thought to be the result of inflammation in the lungs.. Scientists hypothesized that the degree of inflammation in the lungs was so severe that the entire body was strained, which in turn led to heart problems in a subset of patients.. Many scientists thought that the cells in the heart were not directly infected by the flu..

Ohio State University researchers have shown that the flu infects heart cells along with infecting the lungs.. Researchers genetically altered a strain of influenza virus that could not replicate in heart cells and then infected mice with the strain. These mice developed classic flu-like symptoms - except for heart-related complications..

After infection, mice infected with the genetically modified strain of influenza had less damage to the heart muscle, lower levels of damaged cells, less scarring of heart tissue, and fewer electrical signaling problems in the heart..

This is the first time scientists have shown that flu-related heart complications are a direct result of influenza virus infection of heart tissue.. The researchers hope to further elucidate the mechanisms by which influenza damages heart cells and determine whether repeated influenza infections are more effective..

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