Cardiac involvement in HIV infection.

Abstract

Cardiac involvement in HIV infection was previously believed to be an unusual manifestation of the disease, but is now being described with increasing frequency. It may be a well-characterized cardiac disease occurring coincidentally in an AIDS patient, a complication of AIDS or its treatment, or possibly a direct result of HIV infection of the heart. In this article, the authors describe the emerging patterns of heart and vascular diseases in HIV-infected patients, pathogenic mechanisms, and implications for treatment.