Since the establishment of highly active antiretroviral therapy, survival rates have
improved among patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection giving them the
possibility to become transplant candidates. Recent publications revealed that human
immunodeficiency virus‐positive heart transplant recipients' survival is similar to
non‐infected patients. We present the case of a 40‐year‐old human immunodeficiency
virus infected patient, who was hospitalized due to severely decreased left ventricular
function with a possible aetiology of acute myocarditis, that has later been confirmed
by histological investigation of myocardial biopsy. Due to rapid progression to refractory
cardiogenic shock, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation implantation had been initiated,
which was upgraded to biventricular assist device later. On the 35th day of upgraded
support, the patient underwent heart transplantation uneventfully. Our clinical experience
confirms that implementation of temporary mechanical circulatory support and subsequent
cardiac transplantation might be successful in human immunodeficiency virus‐positive
patients even in case of new onset, irreversible acute heart failure.
