Cardiac diseases in AIDS medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]
Medical Therapy
Pericarditis
Majority of the AIDS patients with pericarditis are asymptomatic. Small pericardial effusions without tamponade can be followed up without any further testing. In symptomatic patients with large effusions with or without a tamponade, pericardiocentesis is indicated to obtain culture and cytology [1]. If tamponade occurs, immediate drainage is necessary [2].
It is recommended that patients with pericarditis of unknown etiology be treated emperically for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (4-drug therapy (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol) for 2 months followed by 2 drugs (isoniazid and rifampicin) for 4 months). Addition of perdnisolone to anti-tubercular therapy is associated with rapid recovery, lower mortality rates and decreased need for surgical intervention.
Bacterial and fungal causes of pericarditis are treated with appropriate anti-bacterials and anti-fungals.
Pericarditis secondary to lymphoma can be treated with radiation and/or chemotherapy. However, combination chemotherapy has been shown to significantly increase the risk of early death from opportunistic infections.
Heart Failure
Treatment of heart failure in patients with AIDS is similar to that of in general population. ACE inhibitors, diuretics, beta-blockers and digoxin are indicated as usual. Also, drugs that are known to cause cardiac side effects should be discontinued.
Lifestyle modification (smoking cessation, weight reduction) and control of hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol should be paid special attention.
Cardiac Tumors
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been shown to have a variable effect in the treatment of primary cardiac lymphoma [3].
References
- ↑ Hsia J, Ross AM (1994). "Pericardial effusion and pericardiocentesis in human immunodeficiency virus infection". The American Journal of Cardiology. 74 (1): 94–6. PMID 8017317. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Chen Y, Brennessel D, Walters J, Johnson M, Rosner F, Raza M (1999). "Human immunodeficiency virus-associated pericardial effusion: report of 40 cases and review of the literature". American Heart Journal. 137 (3): 516–21. PMID 10047635. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Montalbetti L, Della Volpe A, Airaghi ML, Landoni C, Brambilla-Pisoni G, Pozzi S (1999). "Primary cardiac lymphoma. A case report and review". Minerva Cardioangiologica. 47 (5): 175–82. PMID 10479855. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help)