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HIV and thrombosis: a review
1National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, USA. saifw@mail.nih.gov
AIDS Patient Care and Stds
|February 15, 2001
Summary
Patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) may experience increased blood clot risk due to HIV-related hypercoagulable states. Understanding these clotting abnormalities is crucial for managing thrombotic complications in AIDS patients.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with an increasing number of clinicopathologic factors.
- Thrombotic episodes have been reported in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
- Several hemostatic abnormalities predispose AIDS patients to a hypercoagulable state.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the medical literature regarding hypercoagulable states in AIDS patients.
- To describe various abnormalities predisposing to thrombosis in AIDS.
- To outline the management of thrombotic complications in this population.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on HIV, AIDS, and thromboembolic complications.
- Analysis of reported hemostatic abnormalities in AIDS patients.
- Correlation of these abnormalities with disease severity (CD4 counts) and concurrent conditions.
Main Results:
- Reported abnormalities include antiphospholipid antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, deficiencies in protein C, S, heparin cofactor II, antithrombin, and increased von Willebrand factor and d-dimers.
- These hemostatic abnormalities correlate with HIV-associated immunosuppression and concurrent illnesses.
- Thrombosis can occur in ambulatory AIDS patients without traditional risk factors.
Conclusions:
- A hypercoagulable state is a significant concern in patients with AIDS.
- Management of thromboembolic complications presents a clinical challenge.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to determine prevalence and risk factors for these complications.