Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in HIV infected patients
Document Type
Article
Department
Internal Medicine (East Africa)
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the presence and extent of autonomic dysfunction in HIV infected individuals of one ethnic group.
Design: Prospective, age-sex matched study.
Methods: 25 patients (seven asymptomatic (HIV), eight AIDS related complex (ARC), 10 AIDS) and 25 controls were recruited from patients and staff at the Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi. Autonomic function was assessed by measurement of pulse rate variability on standing, rest, deep breathing, Valsalva manoeuvre, isometric exercise, cold face test, and mental stress. Blood pressure was measured during standing, supine resting, and on Valsalva manoeuvre. CD4 count was correlated with number of abnormal test results.
Results:21 patients had at least one abnormal test of autonomic function compared with one control (p
Conclusions: There is evidence of substantial autonomic dysfunction in AIDS patients compared with controls and mild abnormalities in the majority of HIV infected patients studied irrespective of CD4 count. Autonomic hypersensitivity may precede loss of function in some cases.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Recommended Citation
Rogstad, K. E.,
Shah, R.,
Tesfaladet, G.,
Abdullah, M.,
Ahmed-Jushuf, I.
(1999). Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in HIV infected patients. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 75, 264-267.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_mc_intern_med/8
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License