Cardiovascular disease and antiretroviral therapy

Abstract

[...]while none of the available risk assessment tools are optimal enough for HIV-infected patients, the PCE (Pooled Cohort Equations CV Risk Calculator) seems a reasonable starting point for clinical use until more studies are published. Dose Earlier Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Lowers the Incidence of Cardiovascular Risk? [...]date, data from randomized clinical trials do not confirm that earlier initiation of ART actively lowers the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Of note, certain older-generation protease inhibitors (such as indinavir and lopinavir-ritonavir) and nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor abacavir, were implicated in inducing dyslipidemia. [...]we only use these agents, if otherwise indicated, with caution among patients with significant risk factors for coronary artery disease rilpivirine is associated with more favorable lipid effects than efavirenz among nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.