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[Cardiac manifestations in HIV-infected individual]
Till Neumann1, Birgit Ross, Ulrich R Hengge
1Abteilung für Kardiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Germany. till.neumann@uni-essen.de
Insights
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impacts the cardiovascular system, causing various heart conditions. Early screening and treatment are crucial for managing these potentially fatal HIV complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection affects multiple organ systems, including the cardiovascular system.
- HIV-associated cardiac conditions range from pericardial effusion and myocarditis to infective and nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.
- While often slow-progressing, these cardiac manifestations can lead to rapid, fatal complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common HIV-associated cardiac manifestations.
- To discuss diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cardiac complications in HIV-infected patients.
- To explore the evolving landscape of cardiovascular risk in the context of long-term HIV infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
Main Methods:
- Literature review of HIV-associated cardiac manifestations.
- Analysis of diagnostic approaches for cardiac conditions in HIV patients.
- Evaluation of therapeutic interventions and their impact on cardiovascular health.
Main Results:
- Common manifestations include pericardial effusion, myocarditis, and endocarditis (infective and nonbacterial thrombotic).
- Early identification of cardiac issues is vital for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
- Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has reduced overall HIV morbidity and mortality, but its long-term cardiovascular impact is under investigation.
Conclusions:
- HIV significantly impacts cardiovascular health, necessitating vigilant monitoring.
- Despite HAART's benefits, increased cardiovascular risk factors may lead to a higher prevalence of cardiac complications in HIV-infected individuals.
- Comprehensive screening and management strategies are essential for addressing HIV-associated cardiac disease.
Abstract:
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does not only affect the immune system. Other organs including the cardiovascular system are influenced by the HIV as well. Most common HIV-associated cardiac manifestations are pericardial effusion and chronic active, focal or diffuse myocarditis. In addition to peri- and myocardial disease, endocardiac manifestations occur as infective endocarditis and nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis in HIV-infected patients. Although most of the cardiac manifestations associated with HIV-infection exhibit a slow progression, rapid courses may lead to fatal complications. Early screening of HIV-infected patients will identify the potentially fatal complications of HIV disease and permit efficient treatment. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) significantly reduced the mortality and morbidity of HIV-infected patients. However, the impact that HAART will have on the incidence and prevalence of cardiac complications in HIV-infected patients is still unknown. It can be predicted, that the long-term viral infection and the increase of cardiovascular risk factors by HAART will probably lead to an increased prevalence of HIV-infected individuals with cardiac complications in the next decade. The present review describes the most frequent HIV-associated cardiac manifestations including diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives.