TGFB1 and Myocardial fibrosis: With respect to the possible involvement of these TGF-β1-associated mechanisms in the pathogenesis of HIV-related myocardial fibrosis, it is noteworthy that systemic activation of platelets has been described in both treatment-naive HIV-infected patients (n = 35) (118), as well as in patients on virally suppressive HAART (n = 73), which included a protease inhibitor in 76.7% of cases (119).