Cardiac manifestations of HIV/AIDS: a review of disease spectrum and clinical management

HIV infection can cause pericardial effusion, myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and other types of heart disease. Immune system decline and opportunistic infections can lead to multiple organ system dysfunction, including heart conditions. As many as 40% of HIV patients may have accumulations of fluid in the pericardium, a membrane around the heart which can also become infected. Inflammation of the heart muscle is discovered in autopsies of approximately half of HIV patients. Inflammation of coronary arteries may also complicated infection with HIV.