ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: The heart has rarely been studied in patients infected with HIV. Diastolic dysfunction is the most frequently observed alteration , which could be due to direct viral action on the myocardium or due to autoimmune mechanism or concomitant infections by cardiotropic virus. The Doppler tissue is a more effective tool than the trans-mitral one to evaluate the diastolic function since is not influenced by preload, afterload or heart rate. OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DDVI) in the HIV (+) group of patients, without symptoms or diagnosis of heart-disease and to analyze their relationship with the CD4 levels and the viral charge. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 50 HIV(+) patients with no symptoms of cardiac involvement who underwent an echocardiogram using Doppler tissue compared with 50 healthy persons matched sex and age as control group. RESULTS: The infection of HIV was associated with DDVI and with CD4 Lymphocytes levels (p<0,05). The association between DDVI and viral load was not found. CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between the HIV infection and the presence of DDVI in asymptomatic patients. The long term monitoring studies should be considered in HIV (+) patients with silent diastolic dysfunction to evaluate their possible progression to the systolic dysfunction.
