Giuseppe Barbaro Knihy

Studies published before the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) tracked the incidence and course of HIV infection in relation to cardiac illness in both children and adults. These studies show that subclinical echocardiographic abnormalities independently predict adverse outcomes and identify high-risk groups to be targeted for early intervention and therapy. The introduction of HAART has altered cardiovascular manifestations in HIV. On the one hand, HAART has significantly modified the course of HIV disease, lengthened survival, and improved the quality of life of HIV-infected patients. On the other hand, the early data have raised concerns that HAART is associated with an increase in both peripheral and coronary arterial diseases, creating an intriguing clinical scenery. This book focuses on new clinical and biological insight related to HIV-associated metabolic and cardiovascular complications in the HAART era. This second edition wants tonbsp;present the latest developmentsnbsp;and the most updated research data innbsp;this rapidly evolving field.

Past studies have shown that HIV infection is linked to various cardiac diseases, including cardiomyopathy, coronary heart disease, and endocarditis. Additionally, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can lead to metabolic syndrome, characterized by lipodystrophy, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance, which increases the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. This work highlights recent findings in HIV-associated heart disease and the cardiovascular complications related to HAART. The first section reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and molecular biology of HIV-associated cardiovascular issues, pulmonary hypertension, lipodystrophy, and HAART-related metabolic syndrome. The second section provides clinical and therapeutic insights into HIV/HAART-associated atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, stroke, vasculitic syndromes, and pulmonary hypertension. It also discusses cardiovascular complications in HIV-infected children, cardiac surgery in these patients, and strategies for preventing and managing HAART-related cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, the interaction between HAART and commonly used cardiovascular drugs is analyzed. This comprehensive resource presents cutting-edge findings from both basic and clinical research, serving as a valuable reference for cardiology, internal medicine specialists, and infectiologists.