Sonographically measured perirenal fat thickness: an early predictor of atherosclerosis in HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to evaluate whether perirenal fat thickness (PRFT), a parameter of central obesity, is related to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), an index of atherosclerosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients.


METHODS
We enrolled 70 consecutive HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy for more than 12 months, in a prospective cohort study. Sonographically measured PRFT and carotid IMT, as well as serum metabolic parameters, were evaluated. PRFT and IMT were measured using 3.75-MHz convex and 7.5-MHz linear probes, respectively.


RESULTS
The mean PRFT and IMT in HIV-1-infected patients with visceral obesity was significantly greater than those in patients without it (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Using the average IMT as the dependent variable in regression analysis, PRFT was an independent factor associated with carotid IMT (p < 0.05). A PRFT of 6.4 mm was the most discriminatory value for predicting an IMT >or= 0.9 mm (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 83.9%). Subjects with visceral obesity had a progressively increasing carotid IMT on the 12-month measurement (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrated that PRFT measurement could be used as an early predictor of IMT increase in HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.
Grima
Pierfrancesco
P
Division of Infectious Diseases, HIV Center, "S. Caterina Novella" Hospital, Galatina, Italy.
Guido
Marcello
M
Zizza
Antonella
A
Chiavaroli
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography