title: Study of vascular reactivity in HIV patients whether or not receiving protease inhibitor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A great number of HIV-infected patients using antiretroviral drugs develop endothelial dysfunction and atherothrombosis, which lead to a high medical and social burden. Thus, it is important to identify pathophysiological mechanisms involved with the endothelial function in these patients, so that early intervention can be made to avoid disease progression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate endothelial function using endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilation in HIV-positive patients and in a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 27 HIV-positive patients and 16 controls were evaluated. Endothelium-dependent (reactive hyperemia) and independent (SL nitroglycerine) vasodilation of the brachial artery was used to evaluate the endothelial function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV-positive patients receiving protease inhibitors (PI) showed significantly lower endothelium-independent vasodilation than the HIV-negative (p=0.020) and HIV-positive without PI (p=0.034) subgroups. The change in brachial artery diameter during active hyperemia was not statistically significant in any subgroup. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that only PI was associated with the relative delta of brachial reactivity to vasodilator in HIV-positive patients at 60s and 90s.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-positive patients receiving PI presented endothelium-independent dysfunction when compared to HIV-positive patients not receiving PI and to the control group.
authors: Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brasil. hnpteixeira@yahoo.com.br
authors: Hamilton Nenrod Pereira
authors: HN
authors: Teixeira
authors: Evandro Tinoco
authors: ET
authors: Mesquita
authors: Mário Luiz
authors: ML
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Anna Ricordi
authors: AR
authors: Bazin
authors: Cláudio Tinoco
authors: CT
authors: Mesquita
authors: Manuel Pereira
authors: MP
authors: Teixeira
authors: Rafael da Cunha
authors: Rda C
authors: Pellegrini
authors: Antonio Claudio Lucas da
authors: AC
authors: Nóbrega
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin