Echocardiographic screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension in HIV-positive patients

Infection. 2014 Aug;42(4):737-41. doi: 10.1007/s15010-014-0610-8. Epub 2014 Mar 12.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with an increased risk for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Upon the screening of 220 asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals by echocardiography, we detected and confirmed HIV-associated PAH in 0.45 % of cases. Mild elevations of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure most probably owing to left ventricular diastolic dysfunction were found in 7.7 % of cases, without progress after 2 years. We suggest that the screening of asymptomatic HIV-positive patients for PAH should not be performed.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Echocardiography*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Young Adult