HIV-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension: A Global Perspective

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a well-recognized cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Worldwide, an estimated 37 million individuals are infected with HIV, and the availability of effective HIV therapy means that more of these patients are living longer and developing cardiovascular complications, including PAH. In European populations, it is estimated that 0.5% of patients with HIV infection develop moderate to severe PAH, so that HIV infection may be one of the most common causes of PAH worldwide. Untreated, the prognosis of HIV-associated PAH is particularly poor, and a large proportion of patients with HIV infection live in resource-poor regions of the world where PAH therapy is not available. In this review, the available data on epidemiology, hemodynamics, mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies for HIV-associated PAH are summarized.