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[Acute Staphylococcus aureus myocarditis in AIDS. 2 cases]
P Hofman1, J F Michiels, E Rosenthal
1Service d'anatomie pathologique, hôpital Pasteur, Nice.
Abstract:
The authors report two cases of acute myocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus in patients with AIDS. There was no history of opportunist infections in either case but the CD4 lymphocyte levels were very low. The myocarditis caused acute cardiac failure and death. Histological examination showed microabscesses filled with Gram positive cocci throughout the myocardium. Bacteriological studies identified the Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus myocarditis without endocardial or pericardial involvement is very rare. It is the result of septic emboli in the cardiac microcirculation. Bacterial myocarditis has rarely been diagnosed in HIV positive patients. Both our cases featured severe cell-mediated immunodeficiency without associated neutropaenia. The decreased bactericidal activity of the neutrophil polynuclears and/or a deficit in the immunity mediated by the B-cell lymphocytes in AIDS could explain the lethal septic complications observed in our two cases.
Insights
Two AIDS patients with severe immunodeficiency developed fatal Staphylococcus aureus myocarditis. This rare condition, characterized by myocardial microabscesses, highlights the risks of bacterial sepsis in advanced HIV infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Bacterial myocarditis is a rare but severe cardiac condition.
- Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are susceptible to opportunistic infections due to profound immunodeficiency.
- Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen, but its role in causing acute myocarditis, especially in HIV-positive individuals, is infrequently documented.