A team of researchers at Vienna General Hospital have declared that the cells of heart muscle die during the early acute phase of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, increasing the risk of heart diseases. The study carried out in 49 patients, revealed that one out of four patients were identified with damaged cells of heart muscle in the acute phase of HIV infection. It is the result of immense increase in HIV viral load and simultaneous activation of immune system. The biomarkers that show the functional impairment and structural damage to the heart were analysed both at the time of acute HIV infection and after drug induced suppression of virus replication.
Across the globe, approximately 2 million people become infected with HIV per year. The primary symptoms of HIV infection include fever, enlarged lymph nodes, skin rashes and muscle pain. Very few people are diagnosed for…
