肠道病毒持续感染是扩张型心肌病(dilated cardiomyopathy,DCM)发生的重要病因,然而病毒感染后导致DCM发生的机制至今尚不明了。研究表明:肠道病毒一方面可以在心肌组织中持续复制,进而通过自身蛋白酶直接损伤心肌细胞,或是通过机体的免疫系统对心肌产生间接的损伤;另一方面,病毒也可以一种自然变异的形式在心肌中长期潜伏。
Persistent enterovirus infection is an important factor for dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).However,the mechanism of DCM caused by enterovirus infection has not been fully clarified.Recent studies revealed that enteroviruses cause DCM mainly by 2 pathways.On one hand,viruses can keep on replicating in the myocardium,leading to injury of myocytes by direct effect of viral protease as well as by indirect effect of body's own immune system.On the other hand,natural variations of enterovirus can cause latent infection in myocardium.