Malignant lymphoma of the heart in acquired immune deficiency syndrome

The role of cardiac CT and MRI in the diagnosis and management of primary cardiac lymphoma: A comprehensive review

Primary cardiac tumors comprise a distinct category of disorders that result in significant cardiac complications. Primary cardiac lymphomas (PCLs) constitute the second most frequent primary malignancy involving the heart. Without treatment, survival may be limited to just a few months; however, a timely therapeutic schedule may prolong the five-year survival. Accordingly, robust diagnostic modalities are essential to improve prognosis. We herein review the literature available in PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Google Scholar and Scopus databases. Our review demonstrated that cardiac computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) employ multiple advanced sequences for tumor characterization with or without a contrast agent. These methods assist not only in differentiating PCLs from other cardiac masses such as cardiac thrombi but also in defining the extent of PCLs and conducting a safe biopsy. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and CT imaging provide essential knowledge regarding PCLs and cardiotoxicity induced by therapeutic regimens. The application of these robust imaging modalities aids in the early diagnosis of PCLs, accelerates the initiation of the treatment program, and improves patient outcomes significantly. Also presented is our introduction into novel techniques and the feasibility of their use to diagnose and treat cardiac masses, particularly PCLs. It should be mentioned that the paramount role of FDG-PET was not the focus of this paper.

Primary Cardiac Lymphoma: Lessons Learned from a Long Survivor

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare neoplasm that involves the heart, pericardium, or both. Patients with PCL have median survival of approximately 7 months. We report a 63-year-old woman with PCL treated with chemoimmunotherapy but relapsed 7 years later. She received automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) prophylactically shortly after the diagnosis. She presented with a breast recidive 7 years after initial diagnosis and died of relapsed small cell lung cancer. As many patients with PCL die early in the disease course due to life-threatening arrhythmias, preemptive implantation of AICD may improve mortality and prevent early death. Chemoimmunotherapy is effective in inducing remission in patients with PCL. Late and unusual pattern of relapse may be more frequent in patients with PCL and should be explored further. This case presents one of the longest surviving patients with PCL reported in the literature.

Cardiovascular disease associated with human immunodeficiency virus: a review

The cardiovascular manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have changed significantly following the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens. On one hand, HAART has altered the course of HIV disease, with longer survival of HIV-infected patients, and cardiovascular complications of HIV infection such as myocarditis have been reduced. On the other hand, HAART is associated with an increase in the prevalence of both peripheral and coronary arterial disease. As longevity increases in HIV-infected individuals, long-term effects, such as cardiovascular disease, are emerging as leading health issues in this population. In the present review article, we discuss HIV-associated cardiovascular disease, focusing on epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, management and therapy. Cardiovascular involvement in treatment-naive patients is still important in situations such as non-adherence to treatment, late initiation of treatment, and/or limited access to HAART in developing countries. We therefore describe the cardiovascular consequences in treatment-naive patients and the potential effect of antiretroviral treatment on their regression, as well as the metabolic and cardiovascular implications of HAART regimens in HIV-infected individuals.

Primary cardiac lymphoma: an analysis of presentation, treatment, and outcome patterns

BACKGROUND

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) represents a rare subset of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterized by poor outcomes. The authors aimed to construct a framework of known clinical presentations, diagnostic features, disease complications, treatment, and outcomes to improve prognostication.

METHODS

Individual patient data were obtained from defined cases of PCL (1949-2009) and systematically analyzed.

RESULTS

The authors report results of a review of 197 cases of PCL, with half of all cases reported since 1995. Survival was affected by 4 factors: immune status, left ventricular involvement, presence of extra-cardiac disease, and arrhythmia. Median overall survival (OS) for immunocompromised and immunocompetent was 3.5 months (m) and not reached, respectively (HR 0.29, 95% CI, 0.13-0.68; P = .004). LV involvement was uncommon (26%) and associated with an OS of only 1 m, whereas patients free of LV involvement had a median OS of 22 m (HR 0.28, 95% CI, 0.12-0.64; P = .002). Patients with extracardiac disease had shorter median OS compared with those without (6 m vs 22 m, HR 0.49, 95% CI, 0.26-0.91; P = .02). Those patients with an arrhythmia of any type had a median OS that was not reached (n = 55), whereas those without rhythm disturbances (n = 41) had median OS of 6 m (HR 0.51, 95% CI, 0.29-0.91; P = .024). Overall response rate to therapy was 84%, with long-term OS over 40%.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study presents the largest analysis of PCL to date. The data demonstrate that PCL is now more frequently diagnosed premortem and appears to have reasonable response rates. Lack of LV involvement and the presence of arrhythmias are associated with improved survival.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the heart in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

A case of HIV-associated cardiac non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is described, and the epidemiologic and clinicopathologic features of 21 cases previously reported in the literature are analyzed. All patients were homosexual males, and the cardiac NHL was the first acquired immune deficiency syndrome-defining condition in the majority. Patients were referred with nonspecific clinical findings including dyspnea and tachycardia, but rapid progression of cardiac dysfunction was frequent after symptoms appeared. Echocardiography constitutes the most useful noninvasive procedure in the diagnosis of cardiac NHL. Most of the patients had disseminated diseased at initial presentation; pathologically, the lymphomas were of B lymphocyte origin and of high-grade subtypes. Prognosis of HIV-associated cardiac NHL is generally poor, although clinical remission has been observed with combination chemotherapy. Cardiac lymphomas in HIV-associated patients are typically high-grade and often disseminate early. Although the prognosis is poor, patients in whom dissemination has not occurred could have longer survival under systemic chemotherapy.

Cardiovascular complications of human immunodeficiency virus infection

The heart and great vessels are not the sites most frequently affected by opportunistic infections and neoplastic processes in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, cardiovascular complications occur in a significant number of such patients and are the immediate cause of death in some. The spectrum of cardiovascular complications of AIDS that may be depicted at imaging includes dilated cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, human immunodeficiency virus-associated pulmonary hypertension, endocarditis, thrombosis, embolism, vasculitis, coronary artery disease, aneurysm, and cardiac involvement in AIDS-related tumors. To aid accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning, radiologists should be familiar with the imaging appearance of each of these complications.

CT and MR imaging findings of malignant cardiac tumors

This article reviews CT and MRI features of malignant cardiac and pericardial tumors, most of which originate from the lung, breast, melanoma, leukemia, or lymphoma through lymphatic, hematogenous, transvenous, and direct pathways. Although echocardiography establishes the diagnosis in most cases, CT and MRI provide additional physical, spatial, and functional information that further aids the evaluation of metastases. For instance, CT provides superior resolution for detecting calcification or fat, while MRI with its direct multiplanar ability more completely characterizes the heart, pericardium, mediastinum, and lungs. MRI also helps elucidate the pathophysiological effects of these tumors on cardiac function through gated cine-loop sequences. Beyond tumor characterization, both modalities can help confirm diagnosis through the addition of contrast, which helps distinguish tumor from myocardium, thrombus, and blood flow artifact. Ultimately, MRI best facilitates surgical planning and posttreatment follow-up in large part because of its unparalleled ability to locate and delimit these tumors.

Epidemiology of HIV cardiac disease

The heart is an organ frequently affected in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), a sharp decline in mortality and morbidity has been observed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, numerous reports of myocardial infarcts in young HIV-infected patients have raised concerns of premature coronary artery disease in this population. New risk factors for coronary heart disease such as increased insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and lipodystrophy syndrome, which are associated with HAART, may accelerate underlying arteriosclerosis in HIV-infected patients. Data on the incidence of coronary heart disease are limited to case reports and retrospective studies. Results from ongoing, large, prospective studies will provide information on whether or not HAART may increase the incidence of myocardial infarcts and whether a drastic change in HIV therapy is warranted.

Pathological findings of HIV-associated cardiovascular disease

More effective therapies have improved survival times of HIV+ patients, resulting in a higher prevalence of long-term complications of the disease. This review focuses on HIV-associated cardiovascular pathology, correlating the morphologic findings to clinical syndromes of HIV disease/AIDS.

Primary cardiac and pericardial neoplasms: radiologic-pathologic correlation

Primary cardiac and pericardial neoplasms are rare lesions and include both benign and malignant histologic types. Myxoma is the most frequent primary cardiac neoplasm, but other benign tumors include papillary fibroelastoma, rhabdomyoma, fibroma, hemangioma, lipoma, and paraganglioma. Cardiac sarcoma represents the second most common primary cardiac neoplasm. Lymphoma can also affect the heart primarily. Pericardial tumors that affect the heart include benign teratomas and malignant mesotheliomas. Patients affected with cardiac or pericardial neoplasms often present with cardiovascular compromise or embolic phenomena and exhibit cardiomegaly at chest radiography. Benign cardiac tumors typically manifest as intracavitary, mural, or epicardial focal masses, whereas malignant tumors demonstrate invasive features and may involve the heart diffusely. Benign lesions can usually be successfully excised, but patients with malignant lesions have an extremely poor prognosis.

Successful treatment of a patient with cardiac lymphoma who presented with a complete atrioventricular block

A patient with primary cardiac lymphoma, which is very rare, generally is regarded to have a poor prognosis. We herein report a patient with cardiac lymphoma who was treated successfully by systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy using a pacemaker to control the complete atrioventricular (A-V) block. A 70-year-old man had a syncope caused by a complete A-V block. An echocardiogram, a computed tomographic scan, and magnetic resonance imaging of his chest showed a cardiac tumor. At this time, a biopsy of the cardiac tumor disclosed malignant lymphoma (diffuse large cell type, B cell type). The patient was thus treated with systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy and, as a result, achieved a complete remission with a disappearance of the A-V block. Recently, several successful outcomes involving primary cardiac lymphoma have been reported because of the progress in diagnostic techniques including echocardiography, computed tomographic scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as improvement in the therapy of malignant lymphoma. Our clinical experience indicated that an early and accurate diagnosis combined with the appropriate therapy can thus help in obtaining a long survival in patients with primary cardiac lymphoma.

Primary cardiac lymphoma in an immunocompetent woman

We report a fatal primary cardiac non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a 62 years old immunocompetent woman presenting with tamponade and complete atrioventricular block. CT-scan, echocardiography and autopsy examination showed a tumor largely infiltrating the heart without extracardiac involvement. A surgical biopsy revealed high grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a misleading myelomonocytic CD68 (KPI) expression. Polymerase Chain Reaction analysis revealed a clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene and confirmed the B-cell origin of the lymphoma. Our report also emphasizes the role of immunohistochemical and molecular techniques in the diagnosis.

[Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with heart disease in patients with AIDS: clinical and echocardiographic aspects]

We report two patients with AIDS and non-Hodgkin lymphoma evolving myocardium. Clinical findings were nonspecific, but rapid progression and cardiac dysfunction developed. An echocardiogram showed restrictive pericarditis in both cases. One of them showed mitral insufficiency because of an infiltrated and trapped posterior mitral valve.

Primary cardiac lymphoma

Primary cardiac lymphoma is a rare entity. We report on the clinicopathological features of 2 patients with primary cardiac lymphomas: one involving the right atrium resulting in intractable right heart failure, and the other involving the pericardium with massive pericardial effusion. In the first patient, sternotomy and surgical biopsy of the tumor were performed to arrive at the diagnosis. In the second patient, CT thorax and transesophageal echocardiography helped to diagnose the pericardial tumor, and cytological examination of the pericardial fluid established the pathological diagnosis of lymphoma. Combination chemotherapy (COPP) was started in both patients. The first patient died on the first day of chemotherapy due to intractable heart failure, while the second attained a partial response to chemotherapy but died of progressive disease 8 weeks later. This is followed by a literature review of 21 patients with primary cardiac lymphoma. In conclusion, the prognosis of primary cardiac tumor remains poor.

Cardiac involvement in HIV infection

Cardiac involvement in HIV infection was previously believed to be an unusual manifestation of the disease, but is now being described with increasing frequency. It may be a well-characterized cardiac disease occurring coincidentally in an AIDS patient, a complication of AIDS or its treatment, or possibly a direct result of HIV infection of the heart. In this article, the authors describe the emerging patterns of heart and vascular diseases in HIV-infected patients, pathogenic mechanisms, and implications for treatment.

Diagnosis and management of systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in HIV disease

Persons with HIV infection are at an increased risk of developing intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Patients present with wide-spread extranodal disease at the time of initial presentation, with unusual sites of disease common. Factors predictive of a poor prognosis are low performance status, history of AIDS prior to the diagnosis of lymphoma, bone marrow involvement, and low CD4 count. Experience suggests that in some patients, more aggressive chemotherapy may be associated with shortened survival time. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that the use of either myeloid growth factors or reduced-dosage chemotherapeutic regimens can reduce the morbidity associated with chemotherapy. A number of new and exciting experimental treatments are now in clinical development. These include new chemotherapy-based regimens, immune modulators immunotoxin therapy, and cellular therapy. It is hoped that as we continue to learn more about the biology of the HIV-associated lymphomas, we can develop more rational and effective treatment modlities that take advantage of the unique molecular characteristics of these tumors.

Cardiac tamponade due to primary pericardial lymphoma in a patient with AIDS

Cardiac tamponade due to lymphomatous involvement of the heart is a dramatic and unusual complication. Because of their nonspecific clinical presentation, these tumors are seldom diagnosed antemortem. We report the case of a patient with AIDS who presented with signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade. Emergency pericardiocentesis followed by staging studies revealed large cell B-lymphocyte lymphoma confined to the pericardial space. With combination chemotherapy, a durable complete response was obtained. This case illustrates the potential benefit of aggressive treatment of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a patient with AIDS. The case is of particular interest because of the unusual development of isolated pericardial involvement as the sentinel sign of lymphoma.

Primary lymphoma of the pericardium: report on a "cured" case and review of the literature

This report describes a 62-year-old man with a primary diffuse, immunohistochemically proven B-cell lymphoma of large non-cleaved cell (centroblastic) type of the pericardium. The patient responded completely to systemic chemotherapy and remains free of disease 30 months after diagnosis. The use of non-cardiotoxic drugs in divided doses as initial treatment is emphasized. In addition, the authors reviewed the literature of the last decade regarding the management and outcome of patients with primary cardiac lymphomas.

Cardiac malignant lymphoma in acquired immune deficiency syndrome

BACKGROUND

Extranodal malignant lymphomas (ML) are known to occur with increased frequency in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. The authors report a 30-year-old man with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with ML primarily involving the heart and compare the clinical and pathologic features to those of previously reported patients.

METHODS

The patient's hospital record was reviewed and pertinent clinical data were abstracted. Tissue obtained at autopsy was processed for routine light microscopic study and immunohistochemistry. A computer-assisted search of the medical literature for patients with malignant cardiac lymphoma was performed.

RESULTS

The patient's initial signs and symptoms were nonspecific, and an abnormal gallium scan suggested pericarditis. Clinically, the course was characterized by progressive heart failure. Autopsy disclosed a diffuse large cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of B-cell phenotype with massive involvement of the pericardium and extension into the myocardium. A literature search revealed 22 patients with cardiac lymphoma associated with AIDS. Clinical findings were nonspecific, but rapid progression of cardiac dysfunction was common after symptoms appeared. Pathologically, most lymphomas were of diffuse aggressive subtypes.

CONCLUSIONS

ML of the heart is extremely rare but is being encountered with increasing frequency in patients with AIDS. The diagnosis should be considered in such patients in whom cardiovascular symptoms develop suddenly and progress rapidly.

Radiology of AIDS in the pediatric patient

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has involved the pediatric age group and is especially prevalent in babies born of mothers who are intravenous drug abusers or prostitutes. Approximately 30% of children born to mothers who are seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) will develop HIV infection. There are several important differences in children and adults with AIDS. The incubation period of the disease is shorter, and initial clinical manifestations occur earlier in children. In addition, certain infections are more common in children, and the different types of malignancy, especially Kaposi's sarcoma, are unusual in the pediatric age group. The altered immune system involves both T cells and humoral immunity and increases susceptibility to a variety of infections, particularly opportunistic organisms. In this publication the complications of pediatric AIDS involving the lungs, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary system, and neurological system are described. The most common pulmonary complications in our experience are Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and pulmonary lymphoid hyperplasia. The spectrum of cardiovascular involvement in pediatric AIDS includes myocarditis, pericarditis, and infectious endocarditis. Gastrointestinal tract involvement is usually due to opportunistic organisms that produce esophagitis, gastritis, and colitis. Abdominal lymphadenopathy is a common finding either due to disseminating Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection or nonspecific lymphadenopathy. Although cholangitis is more commonly seen in adults, it may occur in children with AIDS and, in most cases, is due to related opportunistic infections. Genitourinary infections may be the first evidence of HIV disease. Cystitis, pyelonephritis, renal abscesses, and nephropathy with renal insufficiency are complications of pediatric AIDS. A variety of neurological abnormalities may occur in pediatric AIDS. The most common cause of neurological dysfunction in children with AIDS is HIV neuropathy. We present the many complications of AIDS in children demonstrated by a variety of imaging modalities, emphasizing the importance of diagnostic imaging in children with this disease.

Primary lymphoma of the heart. Prolonged survival with early systemic therapy in a patient

Primary lymphoma of the heart is an uncommon malignancy usually recognized at autopsy or fatal within a few weeks of diagnosis. Recently, it was reported in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. A patient with diffuse large cell lymphoma of the heart is reported who had chest pain and rapidly evolving cardiac arrhythmias. The human immune deficiency virus antibody test was negative. Because of an aggressive diagnostic approach, therapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone was started on the third day after diagnosis. The patient has survived 18 months with an objective response. To the authors' knowledge, this is the longest reported survival in primary cardiac lymphoma. The diagnosis in this patient was aided by excellent tumor delineation by nuclear magnetic resonance scanning. The authors believe that better survival in this patient was a result of prompt diagnosis and treatment because the behavior of the lymphoma was similar to aggressive lymphomas arising elsewhere.

Cardiac involvement in AIDS

Cardiac involvement in AIDS may occur at any stage of HIV disease and may manifest as congestive cardiomyopathy, potentially lethal arrhythmia, or pericardial effusion and tamponade. The heart may be affected by nearly all of the opportunistic infections and many of the malignancies associated with the syndrome. Although often clinically unobtrusive, cardiac lesions may be important in the pathogenesis of significant clinical symptoms and play an often unrecognized role in the prognosis and natural history of AIDS.

Cardiac involvement by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are frequent in patients with human immune deficiency virus positive antibodies. Exceptional instances of cardiac involvement have been described. We report a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and massive cardiac involvement with antemortem echocardiographic assessment. Use of echocardiography in lymphomas-associated AIDS could help in discovering further cases of cardiac involvement.

AIDS-associated lymphoma

Like other immunodeficient populations, HIV-infected individuals are at risk for developing high grade B-cell malignancies. The aetiology of these lymphomas remains unknown. While the tumours share many of the features of B-cell lymphomas seen in immunosuppressed transplant recipients, unlike transplant recipients, Epstein-Barr virus genomic sequences are identified in only a small minority of peripheral lymphomas from HIV-infected individuals. The majority of lymphomas are classified as diffuse, large-cell tumours of either the intermediate grade type or the high grade immunoblastic type. However, approximately one-third of patients present with high grade, small, non-cleaved cell lymphomas. Patients typically present with widespread extranodal disease, often at unusual sites. Lymphoma confined to the central nervous system has been observed in approximately 25% of HIV-infected patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The therapeutic outcome and survival in these patients has been disappointing. Complete response is achieved less frequently, relapse rates are higher and survival generally shorter than those observed in non-HIV-infected patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Prognosis is better for those patients without a prior AIDS diagnosis, who have higher total CD4 cell counts, good performance score, absence of an extranodal site of disease, and treatment with more moderate doses of chemotherapy. Hodgkin's disease, while not causally linked to the presence of immunodeficiency, appears to have a more aggressive natural history in the patient with HIV infection. Advanced disease at presentation is the rule, and the response to therapy has been poor with associated short survivals. Poor bone marrow reserve and the occurrence of intercurrent opportunistic infections has made it difficult to administer many of the standard chemotherapeutic regimens now used for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

Pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in AIDS

Whereas extralymphatic involvement is common in lymphomas associated with HIV infection, there have been few reports of pulmonary lymphoma. In 648 cases of AIDS reported in Colorado, 40 have had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Of these, four have had documented pulmonary involvement and are reported in detail. Clinical manifestations were nonspecific and included fever, weight loss, generalized lymphadenopathy, dyspnea, chest pain and cough. Chest roentgenograms revealed multiple nodules or interstitial infiltrates. Transbronchial biopsy failed to establish the diagnosis in all cases. Three of four patients died four to five months after appearance of pulmonary nodules; one patient with stage IE disease showed slow radiographic progression over 16 months following radiation and chemotherapy and died 18 months after appearance of pulmonary nodules. Pulmonary involvement with lymphoma should be considered in patients with HIV infection, especially if multiple nodules are seen on chest roentgenograms.

Conduction system in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Six children died of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), four of them females, ages 7 months, 13 months, 2 years 8 months, and 4 years; and two of them males, aged 2 1/2 and 7 years. They were born to IV drug-addicted parents. The conduction system (CS) and the entire heart were studied by serial section. In all cases the heart was hypertrophied and enlarged; one had total thrombotic occlusion of the right coronary artery with extensive infarction of the ventricular septum. Vascular changes also were found in all hearts, involving small arteries, arterioles, and venules. In the arteries, they involved the intima, media, and adventitia, and perivascular areas in a degenerative and inflammatory process. The elastic tissue was especially affected. A nonspecific myocarditis was present in four cases and epicarditis in all. Changes in the summit of the ventricular septum were present in four cases, consisting of increased fibrosis and arteriolosclerosis. The CS changes varied in location, showing either vasculitis, myocarditis, or fragmentation of the bundle with lobulation and fibrosis. The changes in the conduction system were not as severe as the changes in the surrounding myocardium. In one case the ECG was abnormal, showing left hemiblock. This corresponded to the finding of fibrosis, vacuolization of cells, and space formation in the left bundle branch.

Primary cardiac lymphoma

An 80-year-old man who initially presented with a left hemiparesis rapidly developed right-sided heart failure and died. Although an echocardiogram suggested the presence of a tumor, the diagnosis of a primary cardiac lymphoma was made only at autopsy. The tumor involved a leaflet of the tricuspid valve, a finding not previously reported in the literature. In 1977, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology defined a primary malignant lymphoma of the heart as that involving only the heart and pericardium. Many reports of primary cardiac malignant lymphomas have been published, however, most of which mention the presence of metastases. We have reviewed the world literature to determine the number of actual cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the heart. Only 15 reported cases, including the current case, were found to meet the current criteria.

Prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in human immunodeficiency virus infection

The prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in the spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is unknown. Sixty consecutive HIV-infected patients were studied using echocardiograms, electrocardiograms (50 patients) and ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (43 patients). Group A (25 patients) were seropositive but pre-AIDS, whereas group B (35 patients) had AIDS and included 24 with an active opportunistic infection (group B1) and 11 without it (group B2). Abnormalities were identified in 32 of 60 patients (53%) and were more frequent in group B (23 of 35, 66%) than in group A (9 of 25, 36%, p less than 0.05) but independent of active opportunistic infection (15 of 24, 62%, in group B1 vs 8 of 11, 73%, in group B2). Echocardiographic abnormalities were identified in 21 of 60 patients (35%), including 7 of 25 (28%) in group A vs 14 of 35 (40%) in group B (difference not significant), and 7 of 24 (29%) in group B1 vs 7 of 11 (64%) in group B2 (difference not significant). Those patients with an absolute CD4 lymphocyte count less than or equal to 100/mm3 had a higher prevalence of echocardiographic abnormalities (12 of 22) than those with CD4 counts greater than 100/mm3 (1 of 14, p less than 0.01). Left ventricular dilation or hypokinesis was identified in 14 of 60 patients (23%), including 4 of 25 (16%) in group A and 10 of 35 (29%) in group B. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were seen in 22 of 50 patients (44%) including 5 of 18 (28%) in group A and 17 of 32 (53%) in group B (difference not significant).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)