title: Association of visceral adiposity with increased intrarenal artery resistive index in HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate whether perirenal fat thickness (PRFT), a parameter of central obesity, is related to kidney function and intrarenal artery resistive index (IARI) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 102 consecutive HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy for more than 12 months in a prospective cohort study. Echographically, the PRFT and IARI were measured and the serum metabolic parameters were evaluated. PRFT and IARI were measured using a 3.75 MHz convex linear probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of PRFT and IARI in HIV-1-infected patients with visceral obesity was considerably higher than that in patients without it (P <0.001 and <0.01, respectively). Using the average IARI as the dependent variable, age (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.14; P < 0.5) and PRFT (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.08P-1.51; P<0.01) were independent factors associated with IARI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that ultrasonographic assessment of PRFT may have a potential to be a marker of increased endothelial damage with specific involvement of the renal vascular district in HIV-1-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, HIV Center, "S.Caterina Novella" Hospital, Galatina, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grima
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zizza
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tundo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiavaroli