[Mitral papillary fibroelastoma in a HIV infected patient]

Papillary fibroelastoma of the endocardium is a benign cardiac tumor which may cause embolic events.

We report the first case, to our knowledge, of cardiac papillary fibroelastoma which was revealed by cerebral ischemic events in a patient infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. The initial diagnosis was mitral endocarditis complicated by cerebral embolic events.

This case demonstrates that fibroelastomas should be added to other valvular diseases described in HIV infected patients. We recall the embolic potential of cardiac papillary fibroelastomas which warrant surgical treatment.