Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
AIDS echocardiography
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk of developing heart disease and they may need an echocardiogram. [1]
Echocardiography
Echocardiography
Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk of developing heart disease. Common heart problems associated with HIV are:
- Pericarditis (inflamed sac surrounding the heart)
- Endocarditis (infection of the lining inside the heart)
- Cancer
- Pulmonary high blood pressure
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Indication for performing an echocardiogram in AIDS patients must be done on case by case basis. For example: HIV infected drug abuser population are more prone for endocarditis than others.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-in-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS[2]