Cardiac complications and immunophenotypic profile of infectious mononucleosis syndrome in children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cardiac complications in infectious mononucleosis patients and to associate them with biochemical and immunological parameters, as well as with spleen ultrasound findings.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with follow-up.

SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric unit, in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece.

PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: Twenty-five children (15 boys, aged 1-11.6 years) suffering from infectious mononucleosis were studied during the acute phase and after 3-6 months. Cardiac evaluation comprised of electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and measurement of creatine phosphokinase, creatine phosphokinase cardiac isoenzyme, and troponin levels. Biochemical and immunological tests included serum transaminases, serum amylase, CD3+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes subpopulation and CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes ratio.

RESULTS: During acute phase, all children had splenomegaly and normal serum amylase values. 17 patients had elevated serum transaminases. Percentages of CD3+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes subpopulation were elevated and CD4+/CD8+ ratio was decreased in all patients. Echocardiography revealed mild pericardial effusion in 13 patients (10/21 with Epstein-Barr infection, 3/4 with cytomegalovirus infection), but none presented with myocarditis. Four out of these 13 patients also had markedly elevated liver enzymes, 10/13 had significant splenomegaly and 12/13 presented very low CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes ratio. Pericardial effusion demonstrated a statistically significant association solely with very low CD4+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes ratio (<0.5). Repetition of laboratory tests 3-6 months post-discharge detected persistent mild pericardial effusion in five patients, along with decreased CD4+/CD8+ ratio in 1/5.

CONCLUSIONS: In infectious mononucleosis syndrome, asymptomatic pericardial effusion could be associated with very low CD4+/CD8+ ratio (<0.5). Further studies would extend and confirm such an association.