Cerebrovascular diseases in HIV-infected patients

Curr HIV Res. 2009 Sep;7(5):475-80. doi: 10.2174/157016209789346345.

Abstract

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has early been recognized in HIV-infected patients, including infectious arteritis, inflammatory vasculitis, aneurismal and small-vessel arteriopathy, to which adds now the premature atherosclerotic cerebral arteriopathy associated with the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced metabolic disorders. As a result of the increased life-expectancy associated with HAART, HIV patients grow older and are exposed to the combined vascular risk of antiviral-induced metabolic changes and advancing age. Several studies have documented subclinical cervical artery atherosclerosis, as assessed by intima-media thickness, ultrasound detection of carotid artery plaques and intracerebral small-vessel disease, all being associated with the induced metabolic changes. This suggests that vascular prevention should be performed on a long-term basis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / adverse effects
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / methods
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / etiology*
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / metabolism
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / pathology*
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / metabolism
  • Humans