Acute Coronary Syndrome in HIV-positive and HIV-negative Patients

Research Team

• Dr. Anthony Becker (PhD project)
• Prof. Karen Sliwa
• Prof. Simon Stewart, Baker Institute, Melbourne, Australia

Background

This projects forms part of the Heart of Soweto Study, a collaborative project, bringing together internationally renowned academics, that will examine the emergence of heart disease in Soweto and other African communities in epidemiological transition.

This project investigates if the increasing incidence of HIV, compounded by the recent introduction of anti-retroviral therapy is associated with a parallel increase in acute myocardial infarction due to thromboembolic events.

In his research he has discovered that people who are HIV-positive suffer heart attacks in the absence of the “usual risk factors” that cause them (e.g. diabetes, hypertension, psychological stress, cholesterol and obesity). In first-world countries although the link between heart disease and HIV-positive status has been proven, doctors are unable to ascertain the root cause because many people are already on HIV treatment.

In Dr Becker's study, all of the patients are not on antiretroviral treatment, which is thought to have heart-attack-inducing side effects. This gives researchers the opportunity to study coronary events in HIV-positive patients who are HAART naive.

Research

Acute Coronary Syndromes in Black South African Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: Initial results of the clinical and angiographic features (Abstract) (PDF; 18kb)

Isolated Left ventricular non-compaction: An under diagnosed disease in South Africa? (PPT; 728kb)

Funding

• Faculty Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand