[Sepsis, cardiomyopathy and human immunodeficiency virus infection: presentation of a case]

Abstract

Sepsis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may be associated with the appearance of cardiac dysfunction. This is a challenge, both when making the differential diagnosis and determining the proper treatment, as there are numerous risk factors: Myocarditis due to the HIV itself, the presence or absence of highly active antiretroviral therapy, toxic substances, and cardiomyopathy associated with sepsis. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach to an HIV positive patient with septic shock and cardiac dysfunction is described, as well as a brief review of the different causes of cardiomyopathy which may affect this group of patients is also presented.

Keywords: Dilated cardiomyopathy; Echocardiography; Ecocardiografía; Human immunodeficiency virus; Miocardiopatía dilatada; Septic shock; Shock séptico; Virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana.