Pericarditis in HIV infected patients: retrospective study of 40 cases in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Incidence of pericarditis has increased in sub-Saharan Africa, because of the HIV infection pandemia. We have done a retrospective study in the cardiology unit of the national hospital of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), in order to describe epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of pericarditis occurring in HIV infected patients. Inclusion criteria were pericarditis proved by echography, and positive HIV serology. We have included forty patients (28 men and 12 women), mean aged of 34.45 years. General signs were fever (87.5%), and weight loss (70%). Thirty-six patients (90%) were in CDC stage C AIDS classification, three (7.5%) in stage B, and one (2.5%) in stage A. The symptoms described by the patients were dyspnea (92.5%), cough 77.5%), chest pain (65%), liver effort pain (27.5%), and palpitations (20%). Heart failure was present in 80% of the patients who had myocarditis. Pericardial effusion was small in 21%, moderate in 31,6%, and large in 47.4% of the patients. Tamponade occurred in for cases (10%). The etiology was tuberculosis in 75% of cases. Pericardial puncture (done in six patients) showed purulent fluid in two cases. Before hospital discharge, eight patients died, giving a mortality rate of 20%. Symptomatic pericardial involvement is frequently associated with stage C of HIV infection. Myocarditis is often associated (37.5%). Mortality rate is high.