Clinical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic resolution of HIV-related cardiomyopathy

Congestive cardiomyopathy has been described in 18% (25/141) of studied patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex, and myocarditis has been suspected as the etiology in 70% (14/20) of patients studied. In previous reports the cardiomyopathy has either been asymptomatic or has been progressive and directly caused significant patient mortality and morbidity. We report a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related cardiomyopathy due to a presumed myocarditis which caused life-threatening congestive heart failure and ventricular fibrillation. This patient's course was unique in that she had clinical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic resolution of her cardiomyopathy. This report adds new knowledge to the etiology and prognosis of patients with HIV-related cardiomyopathy.