Imaging modalities for cardiovascular phenotyping in asymptomatic people living with HIV

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality in people with HIV (PLWH).
• Standard CVD risk scores may underestimate risk in PLWH.
• Subclinical CVD and accelerated cardiovascular abnormalities are concerns in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of imaging modalities in understanding CVD pathophysiology in PLWH.
• To evaluate traditional and novel imaging techniques for CVD risk assessment in PLWH.

Main Methods:

• Review of established imaging techniques: echocardiography, pulse wave velocity, carotid intima thickness.
• Evaluation of novel imaging tools: cardiac CT, CCTA, PET/CT, cardiac MRI.
• Focus on assessing subclinical CVD and cardiovascular abnormalities.

Main Results:

• Traditional imaging methods are foundational for diagnosing and monitoring atherosclerosis and heart failure.
• Novel imaging tools offer new insights into accelerated cardiovascular changes in PLWH.
• These advanced techniques are being assessed for improved CVD risk stratification.

Conclusions:

• Imaging plays a vital role in managing CVD in PLWH.
• Novel imaging modalities show promise for enhancing CVD risk assessment and stratification in PLWH.
• Further evaluation of advanced imaging is needed to optimize cardiovascular care for PLWH.