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Document Details : Title: HIV-related pulmonary hypertension Subtitle: From pathogenesis to clinical aspects Author(s): PELLICELLI, Adriano M. , D'AMBROSIO, Cecilia , VIZZA, Carmine Dario , BORGIA, Maria Clotilde , TANZI, Piero , PINO, Paolo , ZACHARA, Elisabeth , SOCCORSI, Fabrizio Journal: Acta Cardiologica Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Date: June 2004 Pages: 323-330 DOI: 10.2143/AC.59.3.2005190 Abstract : HIV-related pulmonary hypertension (HIV-PH) is a cardiovascular complication of HIV infection that has been recognized in the last years with increasing frequency. HIV-related pulmonary hypertension is a clinical disorder which carries a bad prognosis. While a direct HIV infection of the pulmonary vessels in the pathogenesis of this disorder was not demonstrated, currently a multifactorial pathogenesis of this disease could be hypothesized. Echocardiography has been found to be the most useful screening imaging modality for the diagnosis of HIV-PH, with a high predictive negative value and a low positive predictive value. For this reason Doppler echocardiography is not the gold standard in the diagnosis of HIV-PH. The treatment of HIV-PH is complex and controversial. To date, no study determining the agent of choice for the treatment of this disease exists. Different studies have shown variable results in patiens with HIV-PH treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) but only HAART seems not to be effective in lowering pulmonary hypertension in these patients, and in some patients, HIV-PH develops in spite of a previous HAART. It seems reasonable in HIV-PH patients that a treatment with oral vasodilator drugs can improve the adherence of a long-lasting and complex antiretroviral therapy. |
