In this context, cardiovascular disease has emerged as an increas

In this context, cardiovascular disease has emerged as an increasing cause of morbidity [2-4] and mortality [5-7] in HIV-infected patients. A high prevalence of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug consumption [8, 9], immunodeficiency [10], and immune activation and inflammation buy FK866 caused by HIV replication [11, 12] are contributing factors that may explain the

higher than expected incidence of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected persons. Effective antiretroviral therapy is able to ameliorate immunodeficiency and to decrease immune activation and inflammation, but it cannot entirely resolve the problems associated with HIV infection [13, 14]. In addition, some antiretroviral drugs may themselves contribute to cardiovascular disease by causing metabolic abnormalities and possibly through other mechanisms that are not yet completely understood [4, 15]. Specific sections addressing the prevention of PI3K inhibitor cardiovascular disease have been developed in major guidelines for the management of HIV infection [16-18]. In addition to earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy, the updated 2011 version

of the European AIDS Clinical Society guidelines recommends the promotion of healthy lifestyle measures and adequate management of diabetes, dyslipidaemia and hypertension [17]. In general, recommendations for HIV-infected patients follow those for the general population, assuming that similar responses to the management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors will result in similar

benefits in terms of decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. A critical unanswered question regarding the assessment, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected patients is the degree to Celecoxib which traditional risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and hypertension increase cardiovascular risk in the HIV-infected population. This is an important question because HIV-infected patients are at risk of cardiovascular disease at a younger age than the general population, with HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, and other risk factors and comorbid conditions modifying the effects of a given risk factor. Although smoking, diabetes and hypertension have consistently been shown to be involved in the development of cardiovascular disease in both HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected adults, the prevalence of these factors may vary between HIV-infected and HIV- uninfected adults, and, if this is the case, different interventions may require to be prioritized in HIV-infected patients. The contributions of smoking, diabetes and hypertension to myocardial infarction may also depend on additional factors such as the geographical origin of the population.

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