HIV-associated pulmonary hypertension

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious condition, although it is uncommon in HIV + patients presented up to 12 times more than in the general population; its early diagnosis in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic offers the possibility of a treatment specific substantially improve prognosis in these patients.
Although the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension associated with HIV remains unknown and is considered multifactorial, there is evidence that different viral proteins play an important role in its genesis. In any patient with dyspnea on minimal exertion should be discarded along with other etiologies of PH. The initial screening method is the heart doppler and confirmation is done by right heart catheterization. It is essential to both the specific treatment as early institution of ART at diagnosis; as well it handled in conjunction with experienced teams in this pathology.