DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i01.009

Pages: 41-46

Abstract: Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease. Cardiac complications of HIV infection tend to occur late in the disease and associated with related therapies. Therefore becoming more prevalent as therapy and longevity improve. The main Aim of the Study is to assess the cardiac abnormalities in HIV patients and its relation with WHO staging, duration of HIV infection and opportunistic infections. We had study population of 150 HIV patients who were divided into two groups depending on the CD4 count. Group I included 51 (34%) patients with CD4 count ≤ 350 cells/mm3 and Group II included 99 (66%) patients with CD4 count > 350 cells/mm3. Among them 62 (41.3%) were males and 88 (58.7%) were females. Study population were divided according to the WHO stages 1,2,3,4 and found to be 50%, 28%, 20% and 2% respectively. All patients underwent clinical examination, chest X-ray, ECG, and 2D echocardiography. Cardiologic data were correlated with WHO staging, duration of HIV infection and opportunistic infections. In results in our study population, mean age was 30.87± 6 years and mean duration of HIV infection was 3.18 years. Twenty three patients (15.3%) had opportunistic infections and Oral candidiasis was the most common. Prevalence of cardiac abnormalities was 16.7% in our study. Low voltage complex and pericardial effusion were the most common ECG and echo abnormalities respectively. In conclusion Cardiac abnormalities were specifically correlated with WHO staging, duration of HIV infection and opportunistic infections.