The role of the persistent enterovirus infection in development of acute stroke.

Introduction: The role of enteroviruses in development of dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, pericarditis is known.

The Aim: To examine the role of chronic enterovirus infections in development of acute stroke.

Material And Methods: Blood samples from 72 patients with acute stroke (study group) and 35 patients without vascular disease (control group) were investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for the presence of enterovirus RNA, by using virological method to detect enteroviruses, by ELISA for the levels of IgM and IgG antibodies to enteroviruses.