[Cardiac pathology in human immunodeficiency virus infection]

Clinical cardiac manifestations are rare in the course of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but cardiac lesions can be found at autopsy in 60% of cases. Myocardium and pericardium are the most frequently involved. Cardiac involvement in opportunistic infections, Kaposi's sarcoma, and non Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas usually reflects systemic dissemination of the disease. Idiopathic myocarditis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may also occur and may be related to human immunodeficiency virus. Dysautonomia and drug-induced cardiac lesions have also been reported. Cardiac involvement of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in children is characterized by possible lesions of conduction tissue.