CARDIAC MANIFESTATIONS IN HIV/AIDS PATIENTS AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH CD4+T CELL COUNT

Abstract

Introduction: The cardiovascular diseases in HIV/AIDS are increasing in the developing world. Despite this, cardiac involvement is overlooked in HIV-positive patients. The relation of CD4 + T cell count is also important as it correlate with severity of cardiac involvement. The present study is to detect occurrence of cardiac involvement in HIV/AIDS cases and their correlation with CD4+Tcell count.

Objective: The present study is conducted to evaluate the cardiac manifestations, pattern of cardiac involvement and its correlation with CD4+T cell count in HIV/AIDS cases.

Methods: During the period of 1 year from July 2012 to July 2013, total 100 cases of HIV/AIDS were included. The occurrence of cardiac involvement in HIV/AIDS cases was determined based on cardiac enzymes, ECG findings & 2D Echocardiography findings. An attempt was made to correlate various cardiac findings with CD4 T cell count.

Results: Common clinical symptoms were fever (68%), cough (44%) & exertional breathlessness (33%). On 2D echocardiography, Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was noticed in 28%, pericardial effusion in 14% & Restrictive cardiomyopathy in 7%cases. There was statistically significant relation between left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and pericardial effusion with low CD4+T count. However relation of restrictive cardiomyopathy with CD4+T count was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Commonly observed cardiac abnormality in HIV/AIDS patients were LV diastolic dysfunction, pericardial effusion & restrictive cardiomyopathy. Asymptomatic cardiac manifestations in HIV/AIDS cases are common. The 2D echo is an important diagnostic tool for the evaluation of cardiac dysfunction. CD4+T cell count is significantly low in cases with cardiac manifestations.