CARDIAC INVOLVEMENT IN HIV-INFECTION

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 o ccurring coincidentally in an AIDS patient, a complication of AIDS or its treatment, or possibly a direct result of HIV infection of the hea rt. In this article, the authors describe the emerging patterns of hea rt and vascular diseases in HIV-infected patients, pathogenic mechanis ms, and implications for treatment.