JRSM > Volume 95, Number 9 > Pp. 445-447

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Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in Africans infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Divine Nzuobontane MD MPH   Blackett Kathleen Ngu MD FRCP  ¹   Kuaban Christopher MD  ¹

Wirral Hospital NHS Trust, St Catherine's Hospital, Birkenhead CH42 0LQ, UK
¹ University Hospital Centre and Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Yaounde, Cameroon

Correspondence to: Dr Divine Nzuobontane E-mail: divine.nzuobontane{at}exchange.nwest.wirral-ha.nhs.uk

The effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on cardiovascular autonomic function have been little investigated in African patients. We performed standard heart-rate and blood pressure tests on 75 consecutive consenting patients referred for an HIV test in Yaounde, Cameroon. 54 patients proved to be HIV-infected (30 having progressed to AIDS).

Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction was present in 8 (28%) patients with AIDS and in 1 (4%) HIV-positive patient without AIDS; no HIV-negative individuals had abnormal results. If borderline results are included, over 80% of HIV-positive patients had cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction.

In HIV-infected patients, simple tests such as blood pressure responses to standing or handgrip can warn of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, thus signalling the need for added precautions when invasive procedures are proposed.

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