ZIDOVUDINE THERAPY AND LEFT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION AND MASS IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS

Human immunodeficiency virus-infected (HIV) patients frequently presen t left ventricular dysfunction. Its etiology is not elucidated but zid ovudine has been postulated as a possible cause factor. This study is an attempt to clarify this issue by evaluating the effect of zidovudin e therapy on left ventricular function in these patients, We prospecti vely studied by echocardiographic examination 11 consecutive HIV-infec ted patients who were assigned for zidovudine therapy. We excluded pat ients that had a history or a physical examination suggestive of ische mic, rheumatic, congenital, or hypertensive heart disease. Patients wi th diabetes mellitus, excessive ethanol intake and patients on potenti ally cardiodepressant drugs were also excluded. Echocardiographic exam ination was performed immediately before the initiation of zidovudine therapy and 1 and 3 months later, Left ventricular diameters, mass and fractional shortening showed no significant difference from baseline, at 1 or 3 months after the initiation of zidovudine therapy. Our resu lts suggest that zidovudine therapy has no effect on left ventricular diameters, mass or fractional shortening during a short term.