HIVAC (HIV‐associated cardiomyopathy): An overlooked complication of HIV in developing countries

Abstract

Key Clinical Message Early initiation of anti‐retroviral treatment and prompt management of heart failure in a AIDS patient is crucial. If resources available endomyocardial biopsy can guide the future management. Abstract HIV‐associated cardiomyopathy (HIVAC) is a serious complication of HIV with poorly understood pathology. Systolic dysfunction was a common characteristic of HIVAC which is now replaced as diastolic dysfunction due to the availability of ART. There are various etiologies of HIVAC depending on the degree of viral replication, immune response, availability of ART, and also the disparity between high and low‐income countries. We present the case report of a 65‐year‐old male with a past medical history of untreated HIV who came to the hospital with hemodynamic instability and was diagnosed with HIVAC with pulmonary TB, where the cause of HIVAC was poor immune response and opportunistic infection. Therefore, early cardiac monitoring is essential in HIV patients to prevent its advancement.

Keywords

• AIDS
• diastolic failure
• heart failure
• HIV