title: Echocardiographic findings and abnormalities in HIV-infected patients: results from a large, prospective, multicenter HIV-heart study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study was to assess cardiac structure and function as well as cardiac abnormalities in a large patient-population based multicenter study of HIV-infected subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 803 HIV-positive adults (83.4% men, mean age: 44.2 ± 10.3 yrs) in this prospective, cross-sectional cohort study. The study protocol included a standardized documentation of patient history, medical treatment and clinical examination. All subjects underwent a standardized transthoracic echocardiographic examination protocol including Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Echocardiographic measurements revealed a structural dilatation of the left ventricle in 10.1% of all HIV-infected subjects. Interventricular septum and posterior wall thickness were increased in 18.0% and 11.1%, respectively, with elevated muscle mass in 14.3% male and 19.4% female patients. Of all participants 13.5% exhibited a pathologic contraction characteristic of one or more myocardial segments. Prevalence of systolic and diastolic dysfunction was 34.3% and 48.0%, respectively. However, severe forms of ventricular dysfunction were rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion our results demonstrate the relevance of echocardiography in this patient-population in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Above all, left ventricular wall thickness and function should be controlled regularly in HIV-infected subjects. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01119729).
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reinsch
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kahlert
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esser
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sundermeyer
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brockmeyer
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potthoff
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erbel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neumann