A study conducted on 35 patients who died from the flu showed that 85% of them had at least one chronic cardiovascular disease, and most exhibited multiple pathologies. These data confirm that cardiovascular diseases may be a primary cause of mortality from the flu.
During the study, scientists identified a new subpopulation of white blood cells, named pro-dendritic cells 3. These cells, migrating from the lungs to the heart, produce a significant amount of type 1 interferon. However, instead of providing protection against the virus, this leads to the death of cardiomyocytes.
Additional experiments demonstrated that a drug targeting type 1 interferon significantly reduced heart damage and improved its functionality. Scientists intend to develop a therapy that will simultaneously reduce damage to cardiac tissue after a viral infection and support the protective functions of the immune system.
In addition to the flu, other viral infections, including COVID-19, also significantly increase the risks of stroke and heart attack. In some cases, the likelihood of these diseases increases by up to seven times, according to other studies.
