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Biomedical subjects

Bruno R Cotter

Publications and source records attributed to Bruno R Cotter.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Endothelial dysfunction in HIV infection.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with HIV infection; however, the use of protease inhibitors has been associated with increased cardiovascular events and worsening of multiple coronary heart disease risk factors including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction may be caused by the infection itself, the immunologic responses due to the HIV virus, and also by the effects of HAART through their effects on both lipid and glucose metabolism. The study of endothelial function in HIV infection and its modifications by HAART is an exciting new field in clinical research, limited by multiple factors such as viral factors, immunologic conditions, and metabolic drug effects that could affect the interpretation of endothelial impairment. Further studies are still needed to understand the significance of endothelial dysfunction in the cardiovascular risk assessment of patients with HIV infection.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗

Endothelial function and cardiovascular diseases in HIV infected patient.

The HIV epidemic has dramatically changed the paradigm for the development of drug therapy in the last 15 years. The goal is now not only to provide an effective reduction of plasma viremia , but also to reconstitute the immune deficiency due to the progression of the disease. Significant problems with the metabolism of sugars and lipids lead to the appearance of well-documented disorders such as insulin resistance, abnormalities in lipid metabolism and lipodystrophy in those patients on prolonged therapy with antiretrovirals. The question of whether or not HAART-associated lipid disorders contribute to the premature development of coronary artery disease is of major importance for the HIV community. Endothelial injury is associated with disease-related biochemical abnormalities that are implicated in HIV pathogenesis. The exploration of endothelial function began in the early 1980s at the start of the epidemic. The study of endothelial function in HIV infection and its modifications by HAART is an exciting new field in clinical research; in this review the available information on cardiovascular diseases associated with HIV infection and its treatment are discussed.

Anti-Retroviral Agents↗

Cardiovascular effects of antiretroviral therapy and noninvasive assessments of cardiovascular disease in HIV infection.

The heart is frequently affected in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although the introduction of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) has produced a sharp decline in mortality and morbidity in HIV-infected patients, the use of ART is associated with the development of peripheral insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and lipodystrophy. These abnormalities are also associated with coronary artery disease, and numerous reports of myo-cardial infarction in young HIV-infected patients have raised concerns of pre-mature coronary disease in this population. A comprehensive review of the epidemiology of coronary artery disease is given. In recent years, several non-invasive methods to detect early development of atherosclerosis have been evaluated. Two noninvasive techniques using ultrasound have emerged as valid methods to detect early development of atherosclerosis: intima-media thickness and endothelial dysfunction assessed by the measurement of flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation. Multicenter, randomized trials using either technique may provide more information about whether HIV infection alone, long-term HAART use, or both may increase the risks of or accelerate coronary disease in HIV-infected patients.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Epidemiology of HIV cardiac disease.

The heart is an organ frequently affected in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), a sharp decline in mortality and morbidity has been observed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, numerous reports of myocardial infarcts in young HIV-infected patients have raised concerns of premature coronary artery disease in this population. New risk factors for coronary heart disease such as increased insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and lipodystrophy syndrome, which are associated with HAART, may accelerate underlying arteriosclerosis in HIV-infected patients. Data on the incidence of coronary heart disease are limited to case reports and retrospective studies. Results from ongoing, large, prospective studies will provide information on whether or not HAART may increase the incidence of myocardial infarcts and whether a drastic change in HIV therapy is warranted.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗