When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case report

This case report presents a 43-year-old male patient with severe symptoms who was admitted due to dyspnea following physical activity, cough accompanied by fever, lower limb edema, and hemoptysis. The patient had a 20-year history of hypertension. Examinations revealed bilateral lower pulmonary arte...

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Main Authors: Qian Ding, Yun Zhang, Dongbei Li, Wenhua Liu, Jing Feng, Shuang Li, Wei Chen, Mu Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1641074/full
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author Qian Ding
Yun Zhang
Dongbei Li
Wenhua Liu
Jing Feng
Shuang Li
Wei Chen
Mu Guo
author_facet Qian Ding
Yun Zhang
Dongbei Li
Wenhua Liu
Jing Feng
Shuang Li
Wei Chen
Mu Guo
author_sort Qian Ding
collection DOAJ
description This case report presents a 43-year-old male patient with severe symptoms who was admitted due to dyspnea following physical activity, cough accompanied by fever, lower limb edema, and hemoptysis. The patient had a 20-year history of hypertension. Examinations revealed bilateral lower pulmonary artery thrombosis, a left ventricular thrombus, pulmonary infarction, and reduced left ventricular systolic function, with a lowest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 26.5%. Genetic testing indicated the presence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) (C677T) CT type and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (4G/5G) 4G/5G type, while pleural fluid sequencing confirmed Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)/cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, leading to a diagnosis of viral myocarditis. Treatment included low molecular weight heparin for anticoagulation, glucocorticoids, and measures to improve cardiac function. During treatment, the patient developed a cerebral infarction. Anticoagulation was maintained post-evaluation due to the PAI-1 mutation and was later adjusted to rivaroxaban. Following treatment, inflammatory markers and coagulation function improved, cardiac function recovered (LVEF increased to 53%), and the thrombus resolved. The combination of EBV/CMV infection with MTHFR and PAI-1 mutations synergistically induced thrombosis through the “virus-inflammation-gene” pathway. This case underscores the importance of early pathogen and genetic screening, as well as personalized anticoagulation strategies, such as substituting warfarin with rivaroxaban. The potential synergistic effect of infection and hereditary thrombophilia in multi-organ embolism warrants careful consideration.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-8fba8c36cd0a4a289b0ec0e7fc00debf2025-08-20T05:32:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine2297-055X2025-08-011210.3389/fcvm.2025.16410741641074When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case reportQian Ding0Yun Zhang1Dongbei Li2Wenhua Liu3Jing Feng4Shuang Li5Wei Chen6Mu Guo7Department of Chronic Disease Management, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Chronic Disease Management, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Chronic Disease Management, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaThis case report presents a 43-year-old male patient with severe symptoms who was admitted due to dyspnea following physical activity, cough accompanied by fever, lower limb edema, and hemoptysis. The patient had a 20-year history of hypertension. Examinations revealed bilateral lower pulmonary artery thrombosis, a left ventricular thrombus, pulmonary infarction, and reduced left ventricular systolic function, with a lowest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 26.5%. Genetic testing indicated the presence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) (C677T) CT type and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (4G/5G) 4G/5G type, while pleural fluid sequencing confirmed Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)/cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, leading to a diagnosis of viral myocarditis. Treatment included low molecular weight heparin for anticoagulation, glucocorticoids, and measures to improve cardiac function. During treatment, the patient developed a cerebral infarction. Anticoagulation was maintained post-evaluation due to the PAI-1 mutation and was later adjusted to rivaroxaban. Following treatment, inflammatory markers and coagulation function improved, cardiac function recovered (LVEF increased to 53%), and the thrombus resolved. The combination of EBV/CMV infection with MTHFR and PAI-1 mutations synergistically induced thrombosis through the “virus-inflammation-gene” pathway. This case underscores the importance of early pathogen and genetic screening, as well as personalized anticoagulation strategies, such as substituting warfarin with rivaroxaban. The potential synergistic effect of infection and hereditary thrombophilia in multi-organ embolism warrants careful consideration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1641074/fullviral myocarditisEBV/CMV infectionhereditary thrombophiliamultiorgan embolismcase report
spellingShingle Qian Ding
Yun Zhang
Dongbei Li
Wenhua Liu
Jing Feng
Shuang Li
Wei Chen
Mu Guo
When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case report
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
viral myocarditis
EBV/CMV infection
hereditary thrombophilia
multiorgan embolism
case report
title When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case report
title_full When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case report
title_fullStr When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case report
title_full_unstemmed When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case report
title_short When viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency: deep analysis of a complex case report
title_sort when viral myocarditis meets thrombosis tendency deep analysis of a complex case report
topic viral myocarditis
EBV/CMV infection
hereditary thrombophilia
multiorgan embolism
case report
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2025.1641074/full
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