Left Ventricular Noncompaction: A Rare Cause of Heart Failure in a HIV Patient
Dane D. Gruenebaum *
Michigan State University, Department of Internal Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA
Jagadeesh K. Kalavakunta
Michigan State University/Sparrow Hospital, Department of Cardiology, East Lansing, MI, USA
Joel M. Cohn
Michigan State University/Sparrow Hospital, Department of Cardiology, East Lansing, MI, USA
Heather S. Laird-Fick
Michigan State University, Department of Internal Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Heart failure in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often from dilated cardiomyopathy as a result of HIV itself, drug myotoxicity, secondary infections, or drug-induced atherosclerosis. Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare cardiac congenital abnormality which occurs due to early arrest of endomyocardial morphogenesis.
Case: A 47- year-old female patient with HIV presented with sudden onset shortness of breath and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Echocardiography showed noncompacted endocardium with reduced left ventricular function. She was subsequently diagnosed with LVNC.
Discussion: Multiple etiologies have been implicated in cardiomyopathy among HIV patients. LVNC is a rare cause of left ventricular failure, particularly in this population. Echocardiography plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis.
Conclusion: It is often challenging to identify the underlying cause of cardiomyopathy in a patient with HIV. While LVNC is a rare cause of left ventricular failure, typical findings on echocardiography can obviate the need for a more complex evaluative strategy.
Keywords: Left ventricular noncompaction, Human immunodeficiency virus infection, heart failure, Echocardiography