title: Pulmonary hypertension in HIV infection: a prospective echocardiographic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease, it is seen more frequently in patients with HIV infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with HIV infection by echocardiographic screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Echocardiography and N-terminal of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide measurement were used to examine the prevalence of PH prospectively in HIV-positive patients (n = 374) during routine follow-up visits for HIV disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In echocardiographic screening, PH was detected in a total of 23 of 374 HIV-infected patients (6.1%). Of these, three patients (13%) presented with symptoms of dyspnoea and fatigue, and diagnosis of PAH was confirmed by right heart catheterization. Patients with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) > 30 mmHg were more likely to be female, to have a history of injecting drug use and to originate from high-prevalence countries (HPCs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echocardiographic screening detected PH in a substantial proportion of HIV-positive patients. Female gender, a history of injecting drug use and HPC origin were associated with a higher prevalence of HIV-associated PH. The relevance and long-term outcome of these findings need to be validated in follow-up studies, which are ongoing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarze-Zander
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pabst
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hammerstingl
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohlig
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wasmuth
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boesecke
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stoffel-Wagner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carstensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nickenig
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Strassburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rockstroh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Skowasch
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schueler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: HIV; echocardiography; heart; pulmonary hypertension