Pulmonary hypertension in HIV-infected patients

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) appears to be more frequent and more rapidly pr ogressive in HIV+ patients than in the general population. We describe 2 ca ses of PH in HIV+ patients disclosed by right-side heart failure. The patie nts were ex-intravenous drug users. On had AIDS and the other was asymptoma tic. Both patients had cured hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C anti both died 10 and If months after PH diagnosis. Pulmonary hypertension is a likely diagnosis in HIV+ patients with unexplai ned dyspnea. For primary PH patients, HIV+ serology should be performed. Th ere is probably an indirect mechanism linking PH and HIV The role of associ ated chronic hepatitis C is unknown. Treatment of PH is symptomatic using diuretics, calcium-channel inhibitors, and anticoagulation, but with no real efficacy in terms of prognosis. Anti retroviral therapy is recommended. In the future treatment with epoprosteno l ma-v perhaps provide improvement in the prognosis of PH in HIV+ patients.