Multiple and atypical opportunistic infections in a HIV patient with Toxoplasma myocarditis

Cardiovasc Pathol. 2014 Nov-Dec;23(6):358-62. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2014.06.002. Epub 2014 Jun 18.

Abstract

Opportunistic infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Multiple opportunistic infections can occur in a patient in the setting of severe immunodeficiency and can have atypical clinicoradiological presentation. Cardiac involvement has also been observed on autopsy in HIV-infected patients in the form of myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, endocarditis, neoplasms, and drug-related cardiotoxicity. Mostly, the cardiac opportunistic infections are clinically asymptomatic, and sudden death due to these is extremely rare. We report a case of 44-year-old gentleman who presented with cough, pleuritic chest pain, and breathlessness and died of refractory shock due to myocarditis. At autopsy, he was found to have Toxoplasma myocarditis, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, and cytomegalovirus adrenalitis.

Keywords: CMV; Myocarditis; Necrotizing Pneumocystis pneumonia; Toxoplasma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / pathology*
  • Adrenal Gland Diseases / complications
  • Adrenal Gland Diseases / pathology
  • Adult
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / complications
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • HIV-1
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocarditis / complications*
  • Myocarditis / pathology*
  • Pneumocystis carinii
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / complications
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / pathology
  • Toxoplasmosis / complications*
  • Toxoplasmosis / pathology*