Multimodality Imaging in HIV-Associated Cardiovascular Complications: A Comprehensive Review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global health concern.
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved longevity but not eliminated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in people with HIV.
• HIV-associated CVD encompasses diverse cardiac and vascular pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of multimodality imaging in diagnosing and understanding HIV-related cardiovascular complications.
• To highlight the limitations of traditional risk stratification in this population.
• To provide a critical appraisal of current data and clinical examples.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on multimodality imaging in HIV-associated CVD.
• Analysis of contemporary data and illustrative clinical cases.
• Emphasis on diagnostic and etiological insights provided by various imaging modalities.

Main Results:

• Multimodality imaging is crucial for evaluating the spectrum of HIV-related cardiovascular diseases.
• Traditional cardiovascular risk scores are inadequate for HIV-infected individuals.
• Imaging aids in understanding the pathogenesis of HIV-associated cardiac and vascular conditions.

Conclusions:

• Multimodality imaging is essential for accurate diagnosis and management of cardiovascular complications in people with chronic HIV.
• Further research is needed to refine risk assessment and treatment strategies for HIV-associated CVD.