II. Causes: Medication Adverse Effects
- Direct cardiotoxicity
- Dyslipidemia or Lipodystrophy
- Protease Inhibitors (especially boosted Protease Inhibitors)
- Abacavir
- Efavirenz
- Elvitegravir/Cobicistat
III. Associated Conditions: Common
-
Coronary Artery Disease
- Longstanding HIV carries a coronary disease equivalent risk similar to Diabetes Mellitus
- HIV-Related Contributing Factors to accelerated atherogenesis
- Chronic inflammatory changes
- Virus infected Macrophages
- Endothelial dysfunction
- CD4 Count <500 is associated with an increased risk of coronary events (even if it rebounds)
- Patients with HIV also have higher rates of Tobacco Abuse and Hypertension
- Protease Inhibitors also increase dyslipidemia and Insulin Resistance
- References
-
Cerebrovascular Disease
- Secondary to direct HIV neurotoxicity, opportunistic infections, Coagulopathy, chronic inflammation
- Patients with HIV also have higher rates of Tobacco Abuse, IVDA, CAD, Hypertension, CKD
- Strokes occur at younger ages in HIV patients (esp. with lower CD4 Counts, higher viral loads)
- D'Ascenzo (2015) J Cardiovasc Med 16(12):839-43 [PubMed]
- Dyslipidemia
- Obtain lipid panel and Serum Glucose at time of HIV diagnosis
- Repeat lipid panel and Glucose screening at perioidic intervals
- Protease Inhibitors provoke Hypertriglyceridemia and Low HDL
- Consider Statins if indicated (based on non-HIV Infection guidelines)
- Risk of Statin-related Drug Interactions with Protease Inhibitors, NNRTI agents
- Pitavastatin has the least Drug Interactions and may be preferred in HIV patients
- HIV Cardiomyopathy
IV. Associated Conditions: Other HIV-Related Cardiovascular Conditions
- Less common
- Myocarditis
- Pericardial Effusion
- May develop from HIV Infection or Immunocompromised state
- Opportunistic infections (e.g. Mycobacterium, HSV, CMC, Toxoplasmosis, Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcus)
- Malignancy (Kaposi Sarcoma, Lymphoma)
- Pericarditis
- Arrhythmias
- Autonomic Dysfunction
- Rare Conditions
- Endocarditis
- In addition to Bacteria (staph, strep, HACEK), fungal organisms (e.g. Candidiasis, Cryptococcus)
- Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy)
- Endocarditis
V. Management
- In those with Cardiac Risk Factors, avoid agents with cardiotoxicity risk (see above)
- See Cardiac Risk Management
- Tobacco Cessation
- Hyperlipidemia Management in HIV
- Obtain lipid profile (and Serum Glucose)
- Baseline at HIV diagnosis
- Obtain at 2-8 weeks after starting Antiretroviral therapy
- Obtain at least annually (more often when elevated)
- Statin indicated for 10 year Cardiac Risk >5 to 7.5%
- Risk of Statin-Induced Myopathy
- Pitavastatin start 2 mg orally daily (preferred for least Drug Interactions)
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor) start 10 mg orally daily
- Rosuvastatin (Crestor) start 5 mg orally daily
- Obtain lipid profile (and Serum Glucose)
VI. References
- Baloor (2018) Exam Preparatory Manual for Undergraduates Medicine, Jaypee Brothers, India, p. 242
- (2019) Presc Lett 26(8): 46
- Mathieu (April, 2000) Federal Practitioner, p. 18-20
- Swaminathan and Bafuma in Herbert (2017) EM:Rap 17(3): 2
- Chu (2017) Am Fam Physician 96(3): 161-9 [PubMed]
- Jaqua (2026) Am Fam Physician 113(1): 71-9 [PubMed]