title: Early presentation of dilated cardiomyopathy as a part of seroconversion illness in human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: It has been debated whether dilated cardiomyopathy seen in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome is caused by the virus itself or by the combination of other factors such as presence of opportunistic pathogens and/or severe immunosuppression. This paper describes the first reported case of a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection presenting with dilated cardiomyopathy during his acute seroconversion illness. Presence of cardiac involvement at a very early stage of HIV infection with no evidence of opportunistic infections, or immunosuppression with high CD4 count indicates that HIV may itself be a cardiac pathogen. This case also illustrates the importance of testing for HIV infection as part of the assessment of any patient presenting with myocarditis or dilated cardiomyopathy.
authors.affiliation: MRC Cyclotron Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fath-Ordoubadi
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van der Watt
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors