Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus is a retrovirus that affects all systems in the body. Among this cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of non HIV related death in HIV patients. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in HIV patients include traditional risk factors, chronic inflammation associated with HIV infection and metabolic effects of antiretroviral therapy. HIV infection itself is a independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

HIV infection increases the production of various cytokines which are toxic to myocytes and thereby increases the risk of cardiovascular complications. HIV infection induced endothelial dysfunction and vasculitis is also playing an important role in pathogenesis of these complications.

Although many cardiovascular complications have been described like pulmonary hypertension, systemic hypertension, infective endocarditis and accelerated atherosclerosis in hiv patients, the most common complications include diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular systolic dysfunction ,pericardial  effusion, dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. Rapid onset congestive heart failure leads to death in HIV patients within 6 to 12 months of diagnosis.

As the disease progresses the CD4 count declines  which increases the cardiovascular complications leading to death. So echocardiographic screening should be performed in all HIV patients with low CD4 count for early detection and management of the complications.

This study was conducted to study the prevalence of cardiac complications in HIV patients and their correlation with CD4 count.

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Dr T.M. Prabhu M.D.

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, KAPV Govt Medical College, Trichy