Ankle-brachial index in HIV infection.
Prognosis for patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has improved with the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Evidence over recent years suggests that the incidence of cardiovascular disease is increasing in HIV patients. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a cheap and easy test that has been validated in the general population. Abnormal ABI values are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. To date, six series of ABI values in persons with HIV have been published, but none was a prospective study. No agreement exists concerning the risk factors for an abnormal ABI, though its prevalence is clearly higher in these patients than in the general population. Whether this higher prevalence of an abnormal ABI is associated with a higher incidence of vascular events remains to be determined.
Olalla
Julián
J
Unidad de Medicina Interna, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Spain. julio.olalla@gmail.com
Salas
Daniel
D
de la Torre
Javier
J
Del Arco
Alfonso
A
Prada
José Luis
JL
Martos
Francisco
F
Perea-Milla
Emilio
E
García-Alegría
Javier
J