Pericardial effusion and pericardiocentesis in human immunodeficiency virus infection

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 94 - 96
• Main Authors: Hsia, Judith, Ross, Allan M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1994; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; Adult; AIDS; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Female; HIV; HIV Seropositivity - complications; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Pericardial Effusion - diagnosis; Pericardial Effusion - etiology; Pericardial Effusion - microbiology; Prospective Studies; Punctures; Sex Distribution; Sonography; Human; Immunopathology; Echocardiography; Effusion; Cardiovascular disease; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Pericardium; Infection; Drainage; Heart disease; Viral disease; Pericardial disease; Frequency
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(94)90501-0

HIV infection is common in patients undergoing pericardiocentesis in urban settings. The diagnostic use of pericardiocentesis in this population has been questioned 16; in our experience the yield of pericardiocentesis was 36% (5 of 14 subjects). Most strikingly, the procedure provided unexpected diagnostic information with clinical management implications. The total lack of concordance between infections in other organ systems and in the pericardium underscores the need for caution when making assumptions about the etiology of pericardial effusion in HIV infection.