Coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus - Role of perioperative active anti-retroviral therapy

In a patient with severe ischemic heart disease and advanced human immunode ficiency virus (HIV) infection, vigorous perioperative treatment with anti- retroviral agents was given and coronary artery bypass surgery using cardio pulmonary bypass was successfully performed. This strategy could become the standard for patients with cardiovascular disease and advanced HIV infecti on: The following aspects of this case require further investigation: (1) l ack of a reactive increase in the neutrophil count, (2) transient extreme r eduction of lymphocytes, and (3) a relative decrease in the CD8+ cell ratio .