The Open Drug Safety Journal
2011, 2 : 1-8Published online 2011 January 13. DOI: 10.2174/1876818001102010001
Publisher ID: TODSJ-2-1
RESEARCH ARTICLE
HIV Disease, Antiretroviral Therapy Safety and the Cardiovascular System. Clinical-Instrumental Assessment of Antiretroviral-Naïve Versus Subjects Already Treated with Antiretroviral Agents
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Internal Medicine, Ageing, and Nephrologic Sciences, Division of Infectious Diseases, “Alma Mater Studiorum” University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy; Tel: +39 051 6363355; Fax: +39 051 343500; E-mail: roberto.manfredi@unibo.it
ABSTRACT
Background:
There is controversy over whether or not HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy contribute to early atherosclerosis. Ultrasonographic evaluation of carotid intima-media thickness is considered as a reliable surrogate marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and may be employed in the setting of a cardiovascular risk assessment in HIV-infected patients.
Patients and methods:
A cross-sectional study evaluating classical risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, parameters of HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy and subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV-positive subjects naïve or treated with antiretroviral agents was performed. The enrolled patients underwent ultrasonography of the epi-aortic vessels using a Philips HDI 5000 power color-Doppler with 7.5-MHz probes. The 10-year risk of coronary heart disease was calculated by the Framingham equation.
Results:
A total of 27 patients (19 males and 8 females; mean age 44 ± 13 years; range 32-59 years) was enrolled in the study: 11 subjects were naïve to all antiretroviral agents (group A) and 16 patients were treated with antiretroviral therapy for ≥36 months (group B). Mean duration of known HIV infection was significantly longer in group B than in group A, such as frequency of dyslipidemia and lipodystrophy syndrome. Prevalence of carotid plaques was significantly higher in group B than in group A (43.7% versus 0; p=0.012). In group B, patients with intermediate to high 10-year risk of coronary heart disease (≥10%) showed a significantly higher intima-media thickness and prevalence of carotid lesions than those with low risk (<10%). Moreover, carotid plaques presented structural features comparable to those of classical atherosclerotic plaques observed in general population, with iso-hyperechonegic aspects and irregular surfaces.
Conclusions:
Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis is higher in HIV-infected patients previously treated with antiretrovirals than in those naïve to antiretroviral therapy and seems mostly associated with a longer duration of HIV infection, more severe lipid metabolism alterations, presence of lipodystrophy syndrome, and a more elevated 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases.