Mateja Pirš1, Borut Jug2, Barbara Eržen2, Mišo Šabović2, Primož Karner3, Mario Poljak4, Janez Tomažič3. 1. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. Corresponding author: mateja.pirs@mf.uni-lj.si. 2. Department of Vascular Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 3. Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Illnesses, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 4. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients appears to be associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).The aim of our study was to investigate the differences in markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and prothrombotic state between treated and untreated HIV-infected patients with or without subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: Eighty-six Slovenian HIV-infected male patients below the age of 55 participated in our study. Levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) were measured. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was determined by measuring carotid intima-media thickness. RESULTS: The level of hsCRP was significantly increased in HIV-infected patients; it was higher in treated than untreated patients. VCAM-1 was significantly increased; it was higher in untreated than treated patients. PAI 1 was significantly increased; there were no differences between untreated and treated patients. Patients with subclinical atherosclerosis had elevated hsCRP; levels of VCAM-1 and PAI-1 were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Signs of systemic and vascular inflammation persist in both untreated and treated HIV infected patients. None of the studied markers contributed to improved assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis. The usefulness of such markers in routine clinical evaluation of CVD risk in HIV infected patients remains unclear.
INTRODUCTION: Antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infectedpatients appears to be associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).The aim of our study was to investigate the differences in markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and prothrombotic state between treated and untreated HIV-infectedpatients with or without subclinical atherosclerosis. METHODS: Eighty-six Slovenian HIV-infected malepatients below the age of 55 participated in our study. Levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) were measured. The presence of subclinical atherosclerosis was determined by measuring carotid intima-media thickness. RESULTS: The level of hsCRP was significantly increased in HIV-infectedpatients; it was higher in treated than untreated patients. VCAM-1 was significantly increased; it was higher in untreated than treated patients. PAI 1 was significantly increased; there were no differences between untreated and treated patients. Patients with subclinical atherosclerosis had elevated hsCRP; levels of VCAM-1 and PAI-1 were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Signs of systemic and vascular inflammation persist in both untreated and treated HIV infectedpatients. None of the studied markers contributed to improved assessment of subclinical atherosclerosis. The usefulness of such markers in routine clinical evaluation of CVD risk in HIV infectedpatients remains unclear.
Authors: Jessica L Montoya; Jennifer Iudicello; Hannah A Oppenheim; Pariya L Fazeli; Michael Potter; Qing Ma; Paul J Mills; Ronald J Ellis; Igor Grant; Scott L Letendre; David J Moore Journal: AIDS Date: 2017-03-27 Impact factor: 4.177