Background: With the advent of effective anti-retroviral therapy (ART), HIV is becoming chronic disease. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on ART can expect to live longer, as a result various cardiac complications are increasing in patients of HIV. The aim of present study was to find out the prevalence of various cardiac manifestation in patients of HIV infection.

Material and Method: 100 patients of HIV were included in this study. All patients didn’t have any previous cardiac illness and all were non alcoholic. ECG and echocardiographic evaluation done in all patients to find out various cardiac manifestation. 

Results: Total 100 patients were studied. Abnormal ECGs seen in 52 patients commonest being sinus tachycardia followed by nonspecific ST-T changes. Abnormal 2D echocardiographic findings observed in 57 patients commonest being diastolic dysfunction followed by valvular leak and myocardial involvement. These abnormalities may be multifactorial including low CD4 counts, antiretroviral therapy, stage of HIV infection, opportunistic infection, cardiac autoimmunity and micronutrient deficiency.

Conclusion: The present study showed cardiac abnormalities in HIV patients in form of abnormal ECGs and abnormal 2D echocardiography. And these cardiac abnormalities are more prevalent in advanced HIV disease and AIDS.

Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Anti-retroviral Therapy.

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Dr Suresh Bendwal

Assistant Professor, Dept. of General Medicine, RD Gardi Medical College, Ujjain (M.P.), India