Human Immunodeficiency Virus and β-thalassemia Major: A “Competition of Guilt” for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Report of A Case and A Review of the Literature

Abstract

We report a case of a 43-year-old woman, affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and β-thalassemia major (β-TM), adequately treated with antiretroviral and transfusion-chelation therapy, that develops progressive right ventricular dysfunction due to severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), in absence of symptoms. The existence of both HIV and β-TM cardiomiopathy has recently been reported, but how these two diseases have a “competition of guilt” for creating PAH is still to be understood. The main physiopathological principles regarding HIV and β-TM associated PAH are reviewed. The possible interplay between these two different pathologies is discussed.

Keywords:

• β-Thalassemia major (β-TM)
• Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Heart failure