The individual and combined influence of HIV and hepatitis C virus on dyslipidaemia in a high-risk Hispanic population.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV infection on dyslipidaemia in a Hispanic population at high risk of insulin resistance.


METHODS
We compared serum lipids and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 257 Hispanic adults including 47 HIV- mono-infected, 43 HCV-mono-infected and 59 HIV/HCV-co-infected individuals as well as 108 healthy controls. We also assessed the effect of HCV on lipid alterations associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the impact of HCV and HIV on the associations among insulin resistance, triglycerides and cholesterol.


RESULTS
HCV infection was associated with lower total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, but not high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or triglycerides compared with healthy controls. HIV infection was associated with higher triglycerides and lower HDL, but not total or LDL cholesterol. HCV mitigated the elevation of triglycerides associated with ART. In healthy Hispanic adults, insulin resistance was significantly correlated with higher triglycerides, CRP and lower HDL. HIV infection nullified the association of insulin resistance with triglycerides and HDL, and the association of triglycerides with LDL. HCV infection nullified the association of insulin resistance with triglycerides, HDL and CRP.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV co-infection alters the profile of HIV-associated dyslipidaemia. The clinical significance of these findings for cardiovascular complications in HIV merits further study.
Forrester
J E
JE
Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. janet.forrester@tufts.edu
McGovern
B H
BH
Rhee
M S
MS
Sterling
R K
RK
D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein