Does antiretroviral therapy increase or decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Atherosclerosis is a complex inflammatory process that has been identified as an important problem in persons with HIV infection. Epidemiologic studies have linked certain antiretroviral medications (some nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors) with a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Conversely, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, entry inhibitors, and integrase inhibitors appear neutral. HIV infection is a chronic inflammatory process associated with endothelial dysfunction, atherogenic dyslipidemia, and a higher risk for CHD. Initiation of antiretroviral therapy in the short term appears to lower CHD risk, regardless of the specific agents used. However, adequately powered randomized trials of antiretroviral therapy with CHD as a primary end point are lacking. Thus, the evidence of whether antiretroviral therapy increases or decreases CHD risk in persons with HIV is perplexing. This article reviews the current controversy of the role of HIV and antiretroviral therapy in the development of cardiovascular disease.