Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Following Heart Transplant in an HIV-infected Recipient: Case Report and Review of the Literature

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly increased life expectancy for patients with HIV infection. End-stage organ failure has supplanted AIDS and opportunistic infections as the leading cause of mortality among HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals.1 The prevalence of heart disease in this population is heightened by factors such as HIV-associated cardiomyopathy, increased coronary atherosclerosis, and toxicity from antiretrovirals such as abacavir.