[Cardiac manifestations in prenatal coxsackie virus myocarditis (author's transl)].

This is a report of 6 single cases of prenatal virus myocarditis originated from an endemic region around Salzburg. The cardiac involvement showed different grades dependent too on time of infection and on transfer of maternal antibodies to the child. Infections immediately before delivery cause severe illness, but infections some weeks before birth less severe damage. Symptoms of meningitis were not noticed. The diagnosis of myocarditis by Coxsackie virus was certain in two deceased newborns (Patient 1 and 2), very probable in one decreased baby (Patient 3) and probable in the surviving children (Patient 4, 5 and 6).