[The effect of influenza and para-influenza on the course of ischemic heart disease].

A retrospective analysis was made of 541 case reports of patients with coronary heart disease admitted to the infectious department with the diagnosis of influenza (n-387) and parainfluenza (n-154). In all the patients, the diagnosis was verified serologically with the aid of the hemagglutination inhibition test, with a 4-fold and greater increase of the antibody titer in the serum. In part of the patients, it was confirmed by the above test combined with immunofluorescence in examining rhinopharyngeal smears and in part of influenza patients, it was verified virologically. Exacerbation of CHD was seen in the period of early convalescence in 60% of cases whatever the etiology of viral infection (days 5-13 of the disease). As compared to parainfluenza, influenza provoked the deterioration of CHD significantly more often, especially influenza B (25 and 14.3%). The group at risk for an unfavourable outcome of CHD included patients with influenza and parainfluenza, suffering from postinfarction cardiosclerosis. In this group, exacerbation of CHD was diagnosed in 38.3 and 26.1% of cases, whereas acute myocardial infarction developed in 11.7 and 4.4% of cases. Every second influenza patient and every third parainfluenza patient with acute pneumonia and postinfarction cardiosclerosis demonstrated deterioration of CHD.