A Case of Pericardial Effusion and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the Postmodern Era

Pericardial effusion is a relatively common cardiac pathology associated with various infectious and non-infectious etiologies. In developed countries, viral pericarditis and idiopathic reasons are the two most common causes of this condition. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is prevalent in developing countries and is the most common cause of pericardial effusion in these regions. Parasitic and bacterial etiologies are encountered less frequently. In this report, we describe the case of a large pericardial effusion in a patient with HIV and latent tuberculosis (TB). Pericardiocentesis and analysis of pericardial fluid did not reveal any specific etiology, indicating viral or idiopathic pericarditis as an etiology. We also present an analysis of global data related to pericardial effusion in HIV/AIDS patients, and the impact that the increasing availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) worldwide over the last three decades had had on it. The CD4 count has been described as an essential factor for the prognosis of this condition. Patients with lower CD4 count levels would be at higher risk of severe pericardial effusion.