HIV and Cocaine Induced Cardiovascular Disease: Pathogenesis and Clinical Implications

Patients with HIV infection represent one of the most rapidly developing groups with cardiovascular disease. Since patients infected with the HIV virus are living longer, cardiovascular complications are now becoming more obvious. Moreover, cocaine, a common drug of abuse, is also associated with a variety of cardiovascular disorders and may be an additional comorbid factor in these patients. Myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, hypertensive crises, atherosclerosis, and endocarditis occur with increased frequency in these patients. Patients with HIV and heart disease are a subset of patients that tend to die earlier and respond adversely to drugs commonly used to treat heart disease. Further clinical and basic studies are required to understand the pathogenesis and management of these patients