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Incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy and detection of HIV in myocardial cells of HIV-positive patients

Authors :
Barbaro, Giuseppe
Di Lorenzo, Gabriella
Grisorio, Benvenuto
Barbarini, Giorgio
Source :
The New England Journal of Medicine. Oct 15, 1998, Vol. v339 Issue n16, p1093, 7 p.
Publication Year :
1998

Abstract

HIV seems capable of infecting heart cells and causing various types of heart disease. Researchers followed 952 HIV patients for an average of five years. During that time, 8% of the patients developed dilated cardiomyopathy, which is an early sign of heart failure. Most of these patients also had myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle. T cells were found in biopsy samples of heart tissue, indicating a possible autoimmune attack. HIV was also found in some samples. It is not clear whether HIV attacks heart cells directly or causes an autoimmune response.

Details

ISSN :
00284793
Volume :
v339
Issue :
n16
Database :
Gale General OneFile
Journal :
The New England Journal of Medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsgcl.21218156