Cardiac persistence of cardioviral RNA detected by polymerase chain reaction in a murine model of dilated cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

The persistence of EMCV RNA was shown by PCR in the chronic stage of EMCV-induced myocarditis, a time when the inflammatory reaction had largely subsided. The PCR is a potentially useful method to test possible viral etiologies in idiopathic heart muscle disease or DCM.