Antiretroviral molecules and cardiovascular diseases

Antiretroviral therapy has effectively tackled HIV replication and prevented the development of AIDS-related complications in the majority of HIV-positive patients. This pharmacological approach has dramatically increased the life expectancy of HIV-positive subjects transforming HIV infection into a chronic disease. Notwithstanding this major improvement in HIV disease management, several HIV-positive patients show an earlier and significant onset of aging related chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and neoplasias with respect to uninfected individuals. In particular, cardiovascular diseases are associated with both HIV infection and antiretroviral treatment, and represent major clinical complications in HIV-positive patients. Here, we discuss the interaction between antiretroviral therapy and cardiovascular system in HIV-positive patients focusing on the antiretroviral-related mechanisms involved in cardiovascular alterations.