Study of the cardiac alterations in HIV-infected children consequent to the antiretroviral therapy. Prospective study of 47 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Detect of cardiac alterations in children with AIDS and compare their evolution with the administration of only one anti-retroviral and the recent cases who received drugs in combination.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 47 children in 3 groups: group 1, 20 cases treated only with zidovudine; group 2, 10 patients treated initially with zidovudine and later with a combination of drugs and in group 3, 17 patients, who receiced two or three since the beginning. In all patients it was done chest X-ray, EKG and echocardiography every 6 months and after death complete pathological study.


RESULTS
Among the 45 patients cases 26 (57%) were index cases. Malnutrition, diarrhea tachycardia, signs of congestive heart failure, pericardial effusion, abnormal ventricular repolarization and arrhythmias were more frequent in group 1. Echocardiographic abnormalities were present in 10 (50%) children of group 1. They were less frequent in the others two groups. In regard to the outcome in group 1, two patients had worsening of sings of cardiomyopaty and 4 died. Cardiac dysfunction in all cases of group 2 and 3 improved with the medication.


CONCLUSIONS
The children who received combination and their cardiac alterations had more favorable outcome than those who received only one drug.
Herdy
Gesmar Volga
GV
Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro-UFF, Brazil. gesmar@web4u.com.br
Pinto
Carlos Alberto
CA
Lopes
Vania Gloria
VG
Ribeiro
Raquel P
RP
Gomes
Ivete Martins
IM
Tchou
Hsu Y
HY
Melo
Renata
R
Kurdian
Bedros
B
Júnior Tavares
Plínio de Assis
Pde A
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D015215:Zidovudine