MR characterization of cardiac abnormalities in HIV+ individuals with increased BNP levels.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize cardiac abnormalities in HIV+ patients with increased serum B-type natiuretic peptide (BNP) by contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

DESIGN

Non-blinded prospective consecutive cohort evaluation.

METHODS

More than 400 HIV+ patients were screened for potential BNP alterations. 16 met the inclusion criteria of elevated BNP levels and 12 patients could finally be enrolled. MRI analysis comprised function, oedema and late enhancement sequences.

RESULTS

Patients exhibited a median serum BNP level of 249 pg/ml. Based on MRI, diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (n = 3), myocarditis (n = 2), chronic myocardial infarction (n = 2), dilated cardiomyopathy (n=1) and right ventricular failure (n = 1) was made.

CONCLUSIONS

Although no specific MR pattern was found, MR allowed characterization of the underlying cardiac pathologies in 82% of HIV+ patients with elevated BNP levels.