Both HIV-infection and long-term antiretroviral therapy are associated with increased common carotid intima-media thickness in HIV-infected adolescents and young adults.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCIMT) and cardiovascular risk factors in HIV-infected adolescents on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).


METHODS
23 HIV-infected adolescents were matched with 19 healthy subjects by gender, age and body mass index (BMI). CCIMT was measured by Echo-Doppler ultrasound. Bootstrapped multiple linear regression was used to identify potential predictors of CCIMT including HIV status, gender, age, BMI, waist circumference, HDL-cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, triglycerides, folate, homocysteine, insulin resistance as detected by the homeostasis model assessment, mean blood pressure, and CD36 expression.


RESULTS
In the pooled sample, age ranged from 17 to 23 years and BMI between 16.0 and 25.6 kg/m(2). Mean (SD) CCIMT was higher in HIV-infected than in healthy subjects [0.5 (0.1) vs. 0.1 (0.4) mm, p < 0.001]. Higher values of CCIMT were associated with HIV infection (p < 0.001) and male gender (p < 0.001). CCIMT was also associated with the duration of treatment in subjects with the longest cART exposure, i.e. those exposed to a PI-based and/or NNRTI-based regimen plus a single or double NRTI (p = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV infection and longer duration of cART are associated with higher CCIMT in adolescents and young adults.
Vigano
Alessandra
A
Department of Pediatrics, L. Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. alessandra.vigano@unimi.it
Bedogni
Giorgio
G
Cerini
Chiara
C
Meroni
Luca
L
Giacomet
Vania
V
Stucchi
Sara
S
Fabiano
Valentina
V
Coletto
Sonia
S
Catalano
Mariella
M
Minola
Marzio
M
Zuccotti
Gian Vincenzo
GV
D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents