HIV/AIDS-related cardiovascular disease

Recent advances in antiretroviral therapies have enhanced survival of HIV/ AIDS patients, but cardiovascular complications have emerged as important issues in this growing patient population. Although the antiviral drug therapies apparently yield cardiac and/or vascular toxicities themselves, several other factors associated with HIV pathogenesis have also been implicated. This brief review provides an overview of the significance and complexities of HIV/ AIDS-related cardiovascular complications and addresses some important mechanistic aspects that may contribute to this important clinical problem.