Resting and exercise cardiac function, skeletal muscle oxygenation and whole-body aerobic exercise capacities were evaluated prospectively in cardiac symptom-free HIV+ men receiving antiretroviral therapies and in healthy controls matched for age, physical activity, smoking and body surface area. HIV+ patients showed resting cardiac dysfunction, altered cardiac responses to exercise and depressed exercise tolerance. Exercise stroke volume kinetics and muscle oxygenation were impaired in HIV+ patients, especially in those with resting diastolic dysfunction.