Cardiac dysfunction in HIV infected children: a pilot study.

Twenty six perinatally acquired HAART naive HIV positive children asymptomatic for cardiac disease in age group of 1-9 years were evaluated for cardiac abnormalities by echocardiography. All children were classified according to the revised CDC classification for HIV infection in children. 20 (76.9 percent) patients had evidence of cardiac abnormalities on echocardiography. 18 (69.2 percent) patients in category B had statistically significant abnormal echocardiographic finding . The commonest echocardiographic abnormalities seen were left ventricular dilatation in 10 (38.5 percent) and left ventricular hypertrophy in 10 (38.5 percent) patients. Echocardiographic abnormalities are present even in HIV-infected children who are asymptomatic for cardiac dysfunction.