Club 35 Poster Session Wednesday 11 December: 11/12/2013, 09:30-16:00 * Location: Poster area

Purpose: It is known the higher prevalence of structural heart disease in HIV patients, mostly diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension. In spite of that, there are few data about predisposing factors. Our objective was to evaluate whether HIV stage or detectable blood viral load correlate with the degree of heart disease. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study with HIV patients monitored by the internal medicine unit of our institution. We selected symptomatic patients with functional class ≥ II of NYHA scale. Viral blood load and CD4 count were systematically determined in order to obtain the HIV stage. Patients underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram to assess ventricular hypertrophy, systolic and diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension, according to the limits set by ESC guidelines. Results: Data were obtained from 65 HIV patients with dyspnea (63% male) with a mean age of 48 years. 50% were in NYHA grade II, 32.3% III and 17.7% IV. 46.7% of patients had some data of structural heart disease (figure). Belong to AIDS group (65.3%) did not correlate with the degree of heart disease. However, patients with positive blood viral load had a significantly higher incidence of structural heart disease than those with undetectable load (75% vs. 43% p <0.04), independent of their cardiovascular risk profile or type of antiretroviral therapy (Table). Conclusion: In our experience, half of HIV patients with dyspnea show echocardiographic data of structural heart disease. Detectable viral load in blood doubles the prevalence of heart disease, so that HIV itself may be an independent causal agent. These data should be taken into account in the screening of structural heart disease in these patients.<cross-ref type="fig" refid="CHAPTERsub50781F1"></cross-ref> <fig loc="float" id="CHAPTERsub50781F1"><no>Figure</no><caption> Prevalence of structural heart disease </caption> <link locator="13360720130531155633"></fig>