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AIDS cardiomyopathy: first rule out other myocardial risk factors
K H van Hoeven1, B Segal, S M Factor
1Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461.
Insights
Myocardial risk factors like alcohol abuse and hypertension are common in male patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These factors are associated with older age and cardiomegaly in AIDS patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can affect the heart, leading to AIDS cardiomyopathy.
- The prevalence and impact of co-existing myocardial risk factors in AIDS patients require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of common myocardial risk factors in male AIDS patients.
- To assess the association between these risk factors and cardiac findings in AIDS.
Main Methods:
- Autopsy analysis of 59 male patients diagnosed with AIDS.
- Evaluation for co-existing myocardial risk factors including alcohol abuse, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.
Main Results:
- 21 out of 59 (35.6%) AIDS patients had other myocardial risk factors.
- 17 patients were identified as alcohol abusers, and 6 had hypertension or coronary artery disease.
- Patients with co-existing risk factors were older (mean age 45 vs. 35 years) and showed a trend towards higher mean heart weight (397g vs. 350g) compared to those with AIDS alone.
Conclusions:
- Myocardial risk factors are frequently observed in male AIDS patients.
- The presence of these factors is linked to older age and increased heart size.
- Consideration of traditional myocardial risk factors is crucial when evaluating cardiac health in AIDS patients.
Abstract:
Consecutive autopsies of 59 male AIDS patients revealed that 21 had other myocardial risk factors: 17 were alcohol abusers and 6 had hypertension or coronary artery disease. AIDS patients with these myocardial risk factors were older (mean age 45 versus 35 years, P less than 0.01), and were more likely to have cardiomegaly (mean heart weight 397 grams versus 350 grams, P = 0.06) than patients with AIDS alone. When evaluating patients for AIDS cardiomyopathy, other myocardial risk factors must be considered.