title: Acute coronary syndromes in patients with HIV.
abstract: Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) has considerably increased the life expectancy of patients infected with HIV. Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of mortality in patients infected with HIV. This is primarily attributed to their increased survival, HAART-induced metabolic derangements, and to HIV itself. The pathophysiology of atherosclerosis in HIV is both multifactorial and complex - involving direct endothelial injury and dysfunction, hypercoagulability, and a significant contribution from traditional cardiac risk factors. The advent of HAART has since heralded a remarkable improvement in outcomes, but at the expense of other unforeseen issues. It is thus of paramount importance to swiftly recognize and manage acute coronary syndromes in HIV-infected patients to attenuate adverse complications, which should translate into improved clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Adult Medicine, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine bDepartment of Adult Medicine, The North West Regional Health Authority, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Valmiki K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Seecheran
authors.forename: Stanley L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Giddings
authors.forename: Naveen A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Seecheran
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents