Isolated Right Ventricular Hypertrophy and Dilation

Right ventricular hypertrophy and/or dila­tion, often associated with pericardial effu­sion, can be observed in the clinical course of HIV infection. This finding is related to the presence of pulmonary hypertension, which can be due to pulmonary infections, to diffuse alveolar damage, or to recurrent pulmonary emboli from intravenous debris acquired through drug abuse [1]. In addi­tion, the occurrence of right-sided infective endocarditis related to the high frequency of intravenous drug use among HIV-infect­ed patients may explain right ventricular overload or recurrent pulmonary embolic events [2].