Cardiovascular monitoring and therapy for HIV-infected patients.

Cardiovascular complications are important contributors to morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients. These complications can usually be detected at subclinical levels with monitoring, which can help guide targeted interventions. This article reviews available data on types and frequency of cardiovascular manifestations in HIV+ patients and proposes monitoring strategies aimed at early subclinical detection. In particular, we recommend routine echocardiography for HIV+ patients, even those with no evidence of cardiovascular disease. We also review preventive and therapeutic cardiovascular interventions. For procedures that have not been studied in HIV+ patients, we extrapolate from evidence-based guidelines for the general population.