Zika & heart: A systematic review.

Zika virus infection affects more than 80 countries in the world, mainly those with a tropical climate. Although the most frequent clinical presentation is characterized by rash, conjunctivitis, myalgia, arthralgia and fever, in some cases it is associated with cardiovascular manifestations, such as myocarditis, pericarditis, heart failure and arrhythmias. Furthermore, maternal transmission of the virus generates congenital Zika syndrome, which is associated with cardiac septal defects. Early recognition and treatment of Zika's cardiovascular complications are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients. There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine in humans, so the development of public health strategies to prevent its transmission is of paramount importance. The "Neglected Tropical Diseases and other Infectious Diseases" (NET-Heart project) is an initiative to systematically review all these devastating endemic conditions affecting the heart to spread knowledge and propose algorithms for early diagnosis and treatment.

Endomyocardiofibrosis: A Systematic Review.

Endomyocardiofibrosis was described first time in Uganda as an infrequent restrictive cardiomyopathy with a poor prognosis, characterized by fibrosis of the ventricular subendocardium and severe restrictive physiology leading to difficult therapeutic management and frequently associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome. Its higher prevalence in the tropics and its relationship in some cases with hypereosinophilic endocarditis has led to the search for genetic, infectious, autoimmune and nutritional causes, but its etiology remains unclear. It is a rare cardiomyopathy, difficult to diagnose and with a nonexistent effective treatment. Imaging methods such as echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance are essential for the initial diagnosis, although endomyocardial biopsy establishes the definitive diagnosis. Immunosuppressive treatment is only useful in the early stages of the disease and usually ineffective if installed late when signs of heart failure are present. Surgical treatment is generally palliative.