title: Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV infected patients, especially those treated with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, show an increased risk and incidence of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries, expressed as the value of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the amount of atherosclerotic plaques, and to analyze the correlation between cIMT and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in a cohort of HIV infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis included 72 HIV infected patients, mean age 39.4 years, and 27 healthy HIV negative individuals, matched for age and sex. The data collected included evaluation of the infection, ARV treatment, past cardiovascular events, assessment of traditional and nontraditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, cIMT measurements and amount of atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV infected patients show more advanced subclinical atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries (cIMT and plaques incidence). The cardiovascular risk profile of the HIV infected patients is significantly different from HIV negative people. Among the HIV positive group lower body mass index (BMI) and higher waist/hip ratio (WHR) are observed. The concentration of all cholesterol fractions is lower, whereas the concentration of triglycerides is higher. Cigarette smoking is more common among HIV-infected individuals. A strong statistical correlation between cIMT and age, hypertension, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol and ARV time were found. Total and LDL cholesterol, and lifetime smoking exposure also affect the cIMT. The relationship between cIMT and current HIV RNA may indicate the impact of the current infection status on the cIMT dynamics in this subpopulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Regional Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw, Research and Development Center, Poland. kwiatkowska_w@interia.pl
authors.forename: Wiesława
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kwiatkowska
authors.forename: Brygida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knysz
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drelichowska-Durawa
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czarnecki
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gąsiorowski
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biłyk
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karczewski
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Witkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000187:drug effects*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000187:drug effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D017539:Tunica Intima
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides