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Published on: December 3, 2019
Reversible cardiomyopathy subsequent to perinatal infection with the human immunodeficiency virus
Maria Suely Bezerra Diógenes1, Antonio Carlos Camargo Carvalho, Regina Célia de Menezes Succi
1Hospital São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
This case study details a child with advanced perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who experienced severe heart failure. The child fully recovered heart function after six years of treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiomyopathy Research
Background:
- Perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can lead to severe medical complications.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure are serious potential sequelae in children with advanced HIV.
Observation:
- A pediatric patient with advanced perinatally acquired HIV presented with early, severe dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
- The patient underwent six years of treatment and clinical follow-up.
Findings:
- Complete reversal of cardiac dysfunction was observed.
- Echodopplercardiography confirmed normal left ventricular dimensions and contractility in the seven-year-old patient.
- This represents the first reported case of full cardiomyopathy recovery in a child with perinatally acquired HIV.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for significant cardiac recovery in children with perinatally acquired HIV.
- It underscores the importance of long-term management and monitoring for cardiovascular complications in this population.
- Findings may inform therapeutic strategies and prognosis for pediatric HIV-associated cardiomyopathy.
Abstract:
We describe a patient with advanced perinatal acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who had early clinical manifestation of severe dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure. The picture was completely reversed after six years treatment and follow-up, and the child is now doing well at the age of seven, with normal left ventricular dimension and contractility as shown by echodopplercardiography. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of full recovery from cardiomyopathy in children with perinatally acquired infection by the human immunodeficiency virus.
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