[Cardiac diseases in HIV-seropositive patients].

HIV-associated cardiopathies have a poor prognosis, in particular in patients with low CD4 counts or accompanying encephalopathy. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and the therapeutic options are limited. Pericardiac effusions are also associated with a poor prognosis. Other cardiac manifestations of HIV infection are opportunistic infections, infectious endocarditis (in particular i.v. drug use), neoplasia, and pulmonary hypertension. Premature development of vascular diseases is often observed in patients receiving combination antiretroviral treatment. A number of antiretroviral agents, but also antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents have cardiotoxic side effects. Echocardiography is a good, noninvasive and inexpensive screening method that should be performed at least once a year in all asymptomatic HIV patients.