Cardiac Involvement in Congenital Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Cardiac abnormalities have been reported in 25% to 73% of adult patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). We are reporting the clinical course of a child with congenital AIDS who developed similar cardiac complications. He presented with congestive heart failure three months after the diagnosis of AIDS. He had cardiomegaly demonstrated on chest roentgenogram, which was previously normal. He had left ventricular hypertrophy and T-wave abnormalities on electrocardiography and left ventricular dysfunction and dilatation on echocardiography. His subsequent echocardiogram continued to show poor contractility, although his congestive symptoms were stabilized with digitalis therapy and diuresis. After a year of maintenance therapy with digitalis, he developed right ventricular and right atrial enlargement and tricuspid valve thickening and nodularity, similar to the valvular changes reported in adults. Thus, children with AIDS should be monitored for cardiac complications.