
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Bornholm disease future or investigational therapies
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The prevention of Bornholm disease focuses on preventing infections with Coxsackie virus, as it is the most common underlying cause. The Coxsackie virus canΒ persist for prolonged durations. The Coxsackie virus is an RNA virus that is non-enveloped, positive single stranded and has the ability to form an envelope by taking over host membranes which provides resistance. The relationship between Coxsackie viral infections and chronic disease is also of interest, especially autoimmune conditions. These include chronic myocarditis, diabetes and chronic inflammatory myopathy. Apart from studying the relationship between coxsackie virus and chronic conditions, the effects in utero are also being studied. Neonates may present with fetal myocarditis and neurodevelopmental delays, possibly due to meningitis and encephalitis.
Future or Investigational therapies
Future or Investigational therapies
To understand prevention, it is important to first understand the properties of the virus. Coxsackie virus is:[1]
- non-enveloped; which allows it to survive in harsh environments
- RNA virus
- positive single stranded
- ability to form an envelope by taking over host membranes; provides resistance
Currently, studied are being done to understand the relationship between Coxsackie virus and in utero infections. Newborns may present with fetal myocarditis and neurodevelopmental delays, possibly due to meningitis and encephalitis. The risk of spontaneous abortions is also higher, and the mortality rate is around 10%.[2]
As the disease presents in the form of epidemics and affects masses of individuals at once, vaccinations are also being studied. Due to the genetic variability and various disease possibilities, this process remains a challenge.
The relationship between Coxsackie viral infections and chronic disease is also of interest, especially autoimmune conditions. These include chronic myocarditis, diabetes and chronic inflammatory myopathy.[3]
References
References
- β Sin J, Mangale V, Thienphrapa W, Gottlieb RA, Feuer R (2015). “Recent progress in understanding coxsackievirus replication, dissemination, and pathogenesis”. Virology. 484: 288β304. doi:10.1016/j.virol.2015.06.006. PMCΒ 4567421. PMIDΒ 26142496.
- β Ornoy A, Tenenbaum A (2006). “Pregnancy outcome following infections by coxsackie, echo, measles, mumps, hepatitis, polio and encephalitis viruses”. Reprod Toxicol. 21 (4): 446β57. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2005.12.007. PMIDΒ 16480851.
- β Horwitz MS, Bradley LM, Harbertson J, Krahl T, Lee J, Sarvetnick N (1998). “Diabetes induced by Coxsackie virus: initiation by bystander damage and not molecular mimicry”. Nat Med. 4 (7): 781β5. doi:10.1038/nm0798-781. PMIDΒ 9662368.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Arooj Naz, M.B.B.S
