People living with HIV (PLWH) have up to 2.5-fold increased risk of clinical heart failure and symptoms tend to develop decades earlier than in HIV-uninfected individuals. PLWH have markedly increased prevalence of abnormal diastolic dysfunction which represents impaired myocardial mechanics with abnormal myocardial relaxation and impaired left ventricular filling despite preserved ejection fraction.
In addition to higher prevalence of diastolic dysfunction, several studies have shown PLWH have higher prevalence of unexplained diffuse myocardial fibrosis. These preclinical myocardial changes in PLWH are likely to be the harbinger of the clinical stages of heart failure. Dr. Woldu's project aims will be focused on understanding the correlation of subclinical myocardial remodeling as evidenced by myocardial fibrosis measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to echocardiogram assessment of diastolic dysfunction; and association with serological inflammatory and heart failure biomarkers.
Project Summary provided by the investigator