The American journal of the medical sciences
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The clinical spectrum of acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a common clinical syndrome, may range from asymptomatic to a severe illness. The purpose of this review is to increase awareness of this syndrome, which is rarely suspected and often missed in clinical care settings, and provide an informative reference for primary care providers. The diagnosis of acute HIV infection is important for both patient care and public health concerns. In this article, the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of acute HIV infection are reviewed.
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Case Reports
Sudden cardiac arrest in a patient on chronic methadone after the addition of azithromycin.
Corrected QT-interval (QTc) prolongation with increased risk of fatal arrhythmia is a well-established toxicity of methadone. In this study, a case of sudden cardiac arrest in a patient on chronic methadone therapy is presented. ⋯ A 12-lead electrocardiogram at the time of presentation showed sinus tachycardia and a QTc of 490 milliseconds. It was concluded that the patient experienced a fatal arrhythmia because of QTc prolongation, precipitated by azithromycin in the setting of ongoing methadone use.