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BACKGROUND: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus a subgroup of retrovirus
that causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) a condition in humans in which
progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers
to thrive. HIV infects vital cells in the human immune system such as helper T cells (specifically CD4+ T
cells), macrophages, and dendritic cells. HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through a
number of mechanisms, including apoptosis of uninfected bystander cells, direct viral killing of
infected cells, and killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes that recognize
infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunity is lost,
and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections and multisystem
involvement. From the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, it was recognized first at autopsy and later by
non-invasive techniques that HIV infection can cause cardiac abnormalities. Aim of The Study: To
assess echocardiographic abnormalities in HIV infected individuals and its relation with CD4 count.
Materials and Methods: A total of 200 patients were randomly chosen from the Anti-Retro viral
Therapy clinic. After excluding fifty patients, Remaining 150 patients were divided into two groups
depending on the CD4 count. Group I included patients with CD4 count ≤ 350 cells / mm3. Group
II included patients with CD4 count > 350 cells / mm3. All patients were subjected to a questionnaire
to assess the risks of acquiring HIV, risk factors for cardiac disease and symptomatology of cardiac
illness. A thorough clinical examination of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, abdomen
and central nervous system was done. CD4 count and echocardiography were done for all patients.
Results: Prevalence of echocardiography abnormalities was 10.7% in our study. Pericardial effusion
was the most common echocardiographic abnormality. Echocardiographic abnormalities were
specifically correlated with CD4 counts. In this study 13 out of 51 patients with CD4 counts ≤
350/mm3 had cardiac abnormalities. 3 out of 99 patients with CD4 counts of > 350/mm3 had cardiac
abnormalities. Conclusion: Present study recommends screening for cardiac abnormalities in HIV
patients to identify early cardiac involvement and minimize cardiac complications by early intervention
Key words: HIV infection, Cardiac abnormality, Echocardiography.