title: Atherosclerosis risk in HIV-infected patients: the influence of hepatitis C virus co-infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on atherosclerosis risk in HIV-infected patients has not been adequately evaluated in real-life situations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We compared indexes of early atherosclerosis evaluated by echo-Doppler ultrasound (presence of plaque in carotid or femoral arteries) in 18 HCV-HIV co-infected patients versus 22 HIV mono-infected patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of subclinical carotid plaque was significantly higher in HCV-HIV co-infected patients (p=0.04), despite of the fact LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure (BP) were lower in the co-infected patients (p=0.003). HCV chronic infection (OR=10; IC: 1.5-72; p=0.02) was an independent risk factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cross sectional study suggests that HCV infection might be an independent cardiovascular risk factor in HCV-HIV co-infected patients. HCV infection might be considered as not only a liver infection but also as a metabolic disease in HIV patients, justifying regular cardiovascular surveillance.
authors.affiliation: CHU de Poitiers, Cardiologie, 2 rue Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers, France. philippe.sosner@chu-poitiers.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sosner
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wangermez
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chagneau-Derrode
authors.forename: Gwenaël
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Le Moal
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silvain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D060085:Coinfection; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler