Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Vascular Disease

Elizabeth S Mayne; Susan Louw

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofz303

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors: Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Vascular Disease

Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Jun 25;6(11):ofz303. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofz303. eCollection 2019 Nov.

Authors

Elizabeth S Mayne¹, Susan Louw²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service.
² Department of Molecular Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease, venous thrombosis, and microvascular disease in people with HIV (PWH) is predicted to increase in an aging HIV-infected population. Endothelial damage and dysfunction is a risk factor for cardiovascular events in PWH and is characterized by impaired vascular relaxation and decreased nitric oxide availability. Vascular disease has been attributed to direct viral effects, opportunistic infections, chronic inflammation, effects of antiretroviral therapy, and underlying comorbid conditions, like hypertension and use of tobacco. Although biomarkers have been examined to predict and prognosticate thrombotic and cardiovascular disease in this population, more comprehensive validation of risk factors is necessary to ensure patients are managed appropriately. This review examines the pathogenesis of vascular disease in PWH and summarizes the biomarkers used to predict vascular disease in this population.

Keywords: HIV; biomarkers; cardiovascular disease; endothelium; thrombosis.

Publication types

Review