The Role of Multimodality Imaging in HIV-Associated Cardiomyopathy

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• HIV infection is a global health issue linked to significant cardiovascular complications.
• HIV-associated cardiomyopathy (HIVAC) has evolved in its clinical presentation, now often manifesting as subclinical diastolic dysfunction.
• Cardiovascular complications, including myocardial dysfunction, are prevalent in individuals with HIV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of multimodality cardiovascular imaging in HIV-associated cardiomyopathy (HIVAC).
• To highlight imaging's importance in diagnosing, understanding etiology and pathophysiology, guiding treatment, and assessing prognosis of HIVAC.
• To provide an overview of current evidence on imaging's utility in managing cardiac complications of chronic HIV disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of current evidence on multimodality cardiovascular imaging in HIVAC.
• Analysis of the role of imaging in diagnosis, etiology, pathophysiology, treatment guidance, and prognosis assessment.
• Focus on imaging's application in individuals with chronic HIV disease presenting with cardiac symptoms.

Main Results:

• Multimodality cardiovascular imaging is integral to understanding HIVAC's evolution from systolic to diastolic dysfunction.
• Imaging is essential for evaluating patients with HIV and cardiac symptoms, particularly heart failure.
• Current evidence supports imaging's role in establishing diagnosis, etiology, and pathophysiology of HIVAC.

Conclusions:

• Multimodality cardiovascular imaging is vital for comprehensive management of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy.
• Imaging aids in early detection and characterization of cardiac dysfunction in HIV patients.
• Effective use of imaging guides therapeutic strategies and improves prognostic assessment for HIVAC.