title: Biopsy-proven autoimmune myocarditis in HIV-associated dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dilated cardiomyopathy occurring in HIV-infected patients raises both diagnostic and therapeutic challenging problems. Indeed myocardial involvement in HIV infection has been variously attributed to several causes, including viral, toxic, nutritional and autoimmune, but no specific treatment capable to substantially improve patients' prognosis has been recognized so far.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hereby we describe the case of an autoimmune myocarditis manifesting with heart failure in a3 9-year-old man with HIV infection. Left ventricular endomyocardial biopsy showed a lymphocytic myocarditis characterized by over-expression of HLA-DR and negative polymerase chain reaction for cardiotropic viruses. Steroid treatment was followed by recovery of cardiac dimension and function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presence of auto-reactive myocarditis should be considered in patients with HIV-associated dilated cardiomyopathy. Its recognition by endomyocardial biopsy followed by steroid administration may result in a complete resolution of cardiac disease.
authors.affiliation: Biocardiology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy. biocard@inmi.it.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frustaci
authors.affiliation: Biocardiology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy. petrosillo@inmi.it.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
authors.affiliation: Radiological Sciences Department, "La Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy. marco.francone@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Francone
authors.affiliation: Biocardiology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy. romina.verardo@inmi.it.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verardo
authors.affiliation: Biocardiology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy. giuseppe.ippolito@inmi.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
authors.affiliation: Biocardiology Laboratory, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy. cristinachimenti@libero.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chimenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D001706:Biopsy; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*