Study of Cardiac Manifestations in Patients with HIV Infection and Their Correlation with CD4 Count in Indian Population

Introduction: With advances in the management of patients living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA), not only survival has increased but manifestations of late stage HIV infection are encountered more often including cardiovascular complications. Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of cardiac manifestations in patients with HIV infection and to evaluate their correlation with CD4 count. Materials and Method: 70 consecutive patients with HIV infection admitted to Post Graduate Department of Medicine from the period of July 2010 to August 2011 were studied. All cases of PLHA diagnosed after positive ELISA test for HIV infection were included, whereas those with congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, Ischemic heart disease were excluded from the study. CD4 count and 2D echocardiography along with routine investigations were done for all patients. Result: Male to female ratio was 2:1. Echocardiographic abnormalities were seen in 58% of patients. Reduced ejection fraction (below 50%) and fractional shortening below 30% were the most common cardiac abnormality (48.7%) followed by pericardial effusion (17.4%), pulmonary artery hypertension (11.4%), dilated cardiomyopathy (8.5%), diastolic dysfunction (8.5%) and regional wall motion abnormality (1.4%) respectively. Significant statistical positive correlation was observed between low CD4 count and echocardiographic abnormalities (p < 0.0001). Pericardial effusion was seen more in patients with CD4 count below 200 (p < 0.001). Maximum number of echocardiographic abnormalities was seen in WHO clinical stage IV. Conclusions: Cardiac manifestations are frequent PLHA in our population but do not have detectable clinical manifestation. Echocardiographic abnormalities have a strong correlation with low CD4 count and occur more in advanced stage of the disease.

Study of markers of atherosclerosis including insulin resistance in patients with chronic renal failure

Objectives: The present study was designed to assess the markers of atherosclerosis including Insulin resistance (IR) in na?ve patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Methods: Eighty consecutive na?ve patients with CRF were taken up for study. They were divided into non-diabetic group, Group A (N = 50) and diabetic group, Group B (N = 30). Twenty healthy individuals were taken as controls, Group C (N = 20). Patients undergoing renal replacement therapy, having chronic liver disease and with concomitant acute or chronic infection were excluded from the study. Routine hemogram, fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin ,lipid profile, renal function tests, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum uric acid levels, ultrasound of abdomen and ultrasound B scan for carotid intima medial thickness (CIMT) were done for all patients and control. The data collected were analyzed to inter-correlate the parameters using SPSS 16. Results: On comparing parameters between the three groups, values of HOMA-IR, CRP, uric acid, VLDL and CIMT were significantly higher in Groups A and B than Group C whereas values of HOMA-B, HDL and LDL were lower in both groups A and Bas compared to group C. HOMA-IR had significant negative correlation with creatinine clearance (Crcl) (r = -0.449, p = 0.01) in Group A and (r = -0.483, p = 0.007) in Group B. HOMA-IR had significant positive correlation with CIMT (r = 0.413, p = 0.03) in Group A and (r = 0.581, p = 0.001) in Group B. Crcl had significant negative correlation with CIMT(r = -0.375, p = 0.007) in Group A and (r = -0.705, p = 0.001) in Group B. Crclnegatively correlated with C-reactive protein (r = -0.460, p = 0.001) in Group A and (r = 0.431, p = 0.01) in Group B. HOMA-B positively correlated with Crcl (r = 0.667, p = 0.001) and also with CIMT (r = -0.531, p = 0.003) among Group B individuals. Conclusion: There is a significant increase in insulin resistance (IR) and β cell dysfunction in patients with CRF. Also IR linearly increases with reduction in renal function. CRP and uric acid are also significantly increased, reflecting the existence of a chronic inflammatory milieu in these patients. All these factors contribute to accelerated atherosclerosis, signifying CRF per se is independent risk factor for atherosclerosis.