Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with AIDS, acute myocardial infarction, and severe left main coronary artery disease.

A 48-year-old male patient with AIDS presented with postinfarct unstable angina, decreased left ventricular function (EF 35%), significant left main coronary artery disease, and total occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending and right coronary arteries. In order to avoid the potential immunosuppressive effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in an already compromised host with an already low CD4+ helper/inducer T cell count (180/microL) and high retroviral load (165,000 copies/mL), the application of beating-heart technology and off-pump coronary bypass grafting was an ideal indication. The patient underwent successfully off-pump/CPB coronary revascularization. The triple drug combination of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was resumed postoperatively. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 7(th) postoperative day. The CD4+ count was 142/microL and the viral load decreased to 450 copies/mL. Seven months post-operatively the patient was free of angina and without shortness of breath. The CD4+ count was 160/(m)L and the viral load undetectable. Improved survival of HIV positive patients has resulted in a shift from caring for terminally ill patients to caring for patients with chronic illness. While protease inhibitors have positively affected survival, they may also cause plasma lipid abnormalities, which can lead to severe premature coronary artery disease. Therefore, an increasing population of AIDS and HIV positive patients with coronary artery disease may require cardiac interventions in the near future. Coronary revascularization without CPB and its potential immunocompromising effect may play an important role in patients with severe coronary artery disease and AIDS.