title: Human immunodeficiency virus and beta-thalassemia major: A "competition of guilt" for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Report of a case and a review of the literature.
abstract: We report a case of a 43-year-old woman, affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and beta-thalassemia major (beta-TM), adequately treated with antiretroviral and transfusion-chelation therapy, that develops progressive right ventricular dysfunction due to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), in absence of symptoms. The existence of both HIV and beta-TM cardiomiopathy has recently been reported, but how these two diseases have a "competition of guilt" for creating PAH is still to be understood. The main physiopathological principles regarding HIV and beta-TM associated PAH are reviewed. The possible interplay between these two different pathologies is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Ente Ospedaliero Ospedali Galliera, Cardiologia, Genova, Italia.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Derchi
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcaccini
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vacquer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D002614:Chelating Agents