iloprost and HIV-Infections

With the availability of better treatment and prophylactic regimens for the infectious complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the non-infectious complications are gaining greater attention. HIV-related pulmonary arterial hypertension (HIV-PAH) is one of these. The incidence of HIV-PAH is estimated at 0.5% of HIV-infected individuals. The pathogenesis remains unclear. Patients present with symptoms as diverse as progressive shortness of breath, pedal edema, dry cough, fatigue, syncope, as well as chest pain. Chest X-ray always shows cardiomegaly and prominent pulmonary artery, and evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy can be seen from the electrocardiogram. The pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance from right heart catheterization are increased. There are a few small studies showing the benefit of prostacyclin analog (epoprostenol and iloprost) and bosentan. The role of antiretrovirals remains controversial, as do those of other agents such as calcium channel blockers and anticoagulants. The prognosis of HIV-PAH is grave. Two thirds of HIV-PAH related mortality is usually secondary to consequences of pulmonary hypertension, with the worst survival noted in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III-IV. The probability of survival in one series was 73%, 60% and 47% at one, two and three years, respectively.

Topics: Disease Progression; HIV Infections; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Iloprost; Prognosis; Pulmonary Artery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vasodilator Agents

In the era of new, potent antiretroviral therapy, much more attention is being given to non-infectious complications of HIV diseases, such as cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion and pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH diagnosis is based on a mean pulmonary artery pressure of more than 25 mmHg at rest, or more than 30 mmHg with exercise. The incidence of PH is about 0.1% per year among HIV-positive patients, while in the general population it is 1 to 2 cases per million people. The histopathology of HIV-associated PH (HAPH) is similar to that of idiopathic PH, although its pathogenesis is still unclear. In patients with HAPH secondary causes of PH must be ruled out, such as intravenous drug abuse, valvulopathy, congenital heart disease and previous tricuspid endocarditis. The treatment of HAPH is not substantially different from that of idiopathic PH and is essentially based on the use of vasodilators. The Regional Authority of Lazio (Italy) has instituted a Registry for PH in HIV-positive patients; its aims are to evaluate the real incidence and prevalence of primitive and secondary PH among patients with HIV infection, and optimise the management of patients with suspected PH through the definition of a diagnostic algorithm.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Algorithms; Antihypertensive Agents; Clinical Trials as Topic; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Epoprostenol; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Iloprost; Incidence; Infant, Newborn; Italy; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prevalence; Prognosis; Registries; Risk Factors; Vasodilator Agents

A patient with digital ischaemia and gangrene was treated with iloprost and antiplatelets for two weeks. His vasculitic screen was negative except for a positive HIV test. His vasculitis improved three weeks after treatment with antiretroviral medications. Though vasculitis is well known to be associated with HIV infection, very few cases of HIV present as vasculitis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Female; Fingers; Gangrene; HIV Infections; Humans; Iloprost; Male; Treatment Outcome; Vasculitis

As antiretroviral therapy has improved life expectancy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the life-limiting complication of HIV-related pulmonary hypertension has come into focus. Inhalation of the stable prostacyclin analogue iloprost is an effective treatment for various forms of precapillary pulmonary hypertension. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of inhaled iloprost in HIV-related pulmonary hypertension. In eight patients with severe pulmonary hypertension related to HIV infection, right heart and femoral artery catheterisation were performed. The acute effect of oxygen, inhaled nitric oxide and aerosolised iloprost was investigated. Four patients underwent long-term treatment with inhaled iloprost. The rank order of pulmonary vasodilatory potency was iloprost>NO>O2, with a maximum reduction (mean +/- SEM) in pulmonary vascular resistance of 30.6 +/- 3.1% (p < 0.001), 5.9 +/- 3.9% and -0.6 +/- 3.9%, respectively. Concomitantly, inhaled iloprost significantly increased the cardiac index and central venous oxygen saturation. Chronic treatment with inhaled iloprost tended to improve the 6 min walking distance and decreased pulmonary vascular resistance in all patients (although not significantly). No serious adverse events and no major interactions with the ongoing antiretroviral therapy were noted. In conclusion, inhaled iloprost is a potent pulmonary vasodilator in human immune deficiency virus-related pulmonary hypertension. Future studies are warranted to confirm the encouraging long-term beneficial results observed in the present limited number of patients.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Cardiac Catheterization; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; HIV Infections; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Iloprost; Long-Term Care; Male; Middle Aged; Nitric Oxide; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Pulmonary Artery; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; Stroke Volume; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Resistance; Vasodilator Agents

Topics: Adult; Antihypertensive Agents; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; Female; HIV; HIV Infections; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Iloprost; Piperazines; Purines; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Sildenafil Citrate; Sulfones; Time; Vasodilator Agents