title: Progression of carotid intima-media thickness in a contemporary human immunodeficiency virus cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are at risk for premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). Predictors of atherosclerotic disease progression in contemporary patients have not been well described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from a prospective observational cohort of adults infected with HIV (Study to Understand the Natural History of HIV/AIDS in the Era of Effective Therapy), we assessed common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) at baseline and year 2 by ultrasound. We examined HIV-associated predictors of CIMT progression after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and baseline CIMT using linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 389 participants (median age at baseline, 42 years; male sex, 77%; median CD4+ cell count at baseline, 485 cells/mm³; 78% receiving antiretroviral therapy), the median 2-year CIMT change was 0.016 mm (interquartile range, -0.003 to 0.033 mm; P < .001). Lesser CIMT progression was associated with a suppressed viral load at baseline (-0.009 mm change; P = .015) and remaining virologically suppressed throughout follow-up (-0.011 mm change; P < .001). After adjusting for additional risk factors and a suppressed viral load during follow-up, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor versus protease inhibitor exposure was associated with lesser CIMT progression (-0.011 mm change; P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suppressing HIV replication below clinical thresholds was associated with less progression of atherosclerosis. The proatherogenic mechanisms of HIV replication and the net CVD benefit of different antiretroviral drugs should be a focus of future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: Jason V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: W Keith
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Pragna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.forename: Lois J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Conley
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: E Turner
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Overton
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budoff
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: Howard N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Hodis
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral