Brain natriuretic peptide and HIV-related cardiomyopathy
Carrillo-Jimenez, R.; Treadwell, T.L.; Goldfine, H.; Buenano, A.; Lamas, G.A.; Hennekens, C.H.
Aids Reader 12(11): 501
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1053-0894 PMID: 12498156 Document Number: 545400
The brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) assay is a new, relatively inexpensive, and simple test that has the potential to be an early, cost-effective, and reliable marker for HIV-related cardiomyopathy. We report 1 case of HIV-related cardiomyopathy and 10 cases of of HIV infection with unknown heart disease in which we measured BNP levels and performed echocardiography. We found a significant inverse relationship between BNP and left ventricular function in these patients. Further basic and epidemiologic research on BNP measurement for the detection of HIV-related cardiomyopathy is needed to support these findings, which if confirmed, could have important clinical and public health implications.