title: Tenofovir/emtricitabine/efavirenz plus rosuvastatin decrease serum levels of inflammatory markers more than antiretroviral drugs alone in antiretroviral therapy-naive HIV-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statins are lipid-lowering drugs that exhibit anti-Inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties, leading to a reduction of serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the anti-inflammatory effects of statins in HIV-infected patients, because very limited data are available today.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal, observational study of HIV-infected adult patients naive to antiretroviral therapy who started tenofovir/emtricitabine/efavirenz and were followed-up for 48 weeks. Patients with baseline normal cholesterol level and taking only antiretroviral drugs (group A) were compared to those with baseline hypercholesterolemia who received rosuvastatin (10 mg daily) in association with antiretroviral treatment (group B). The primary observation was change in serum markers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8]) and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF- α]) in both groups, whereas secondary observations include variations in CD4 lymphocyte count, HIV viral load, and occurrence of adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-six patients were enrolled into the study: 46 in group A and 40 in group B. After 48 weeks, patients treated with antiretroviral therapy plus rosuvastatin had significantly greater decreases in serum concentrations of all Inflammatory markers than those taking antiretroviral therapy only. Changes in mean levels of hsCRP and TNF-α were -35.1% and -22.4% in group B and -8.2% and 5.4% in group A, respectively (P < .001, for both parameters). No significant differences in immunovirological parameters and safety profile were reported across the compared groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that tenofovir/emtricitabine/efavirenz plus rosuvastatin has a greater antiInflammatory effect than antiretroviral drugs only.
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Calza
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Vanino
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Salvadori
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Manfredi
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Colangeli
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Cascavilla
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Maria Assunta
authors: MA
authors: Di Bari
authors: Centralized Laboratory, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Motta
authors: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Viale
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068257:Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Drug Combination; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010078:Oxazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068257:Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Drug Combination; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D063065:Organophosphonates; D010078:Oxazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D000225:Adenine
keywords: antiretroviral therapy; hypercholesterolemia; inflammation; markers; statins