Complete atrioventricular block-an uncommon clinical presentation in an adult patient with proven dengue fever.
Nilay TripathiAkshyaya PradhanMukesh TripathiPublished in: BMJ case reports (2024)
Dengue is a viral disease that clinically presents with fever, thrombocytopenia-related haemorrhagic complications and shock in its severest form. This female patient in her 40s primarily presented to the emergency department of the cardiac centre as syncopal attacks with a complete atrioventricular block. Temporary cardiac pacing as an emergency procedure helped to maintain cardiac rhythm and haemodynamics. A history of recent onset fever helped us to suspect and confirmed by serology for dengue pathology. Normal sinus rhythm was restored after 2 days, and we removed the temporary pacing. Cardiac arrhythmia did not recur in 6 months of follow-up. The aetiology for dengue-related cardiac arrhythmia is still not established. In the recovery phase from fever, complete heart block may show up as a primary presentation in the emergency. Its timely diagnosis and temporary pacing may allow spontaneous recovery. The inclusion of electrocardiography in dengue patient guidelines should help clinicians to dictate its treatment.