title: Long-term use of first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy is not associated with carotid artery stiffness in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether or not highly active antiretroviral therapy is associated with carotid artery stiffness in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in Henan Province, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with at least a 5-year history of highly active antiretroviral therapy use and 50 human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients without a history of highly active antiretroviral therapy use were enrolled in this study. Carotid artery intima-media thickness and stiffness were determined by quantitative inter-media thickness and quantitative artery stiffness, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference in carotid artery intima-media thickness and stiffness was observed between groups. A significant association between human immunodeficiency virus infection time and carotid artery stiffness was observed, but no significant association between human immunodeficiency virus infection time and intima-media thickness was found. No significant association between intima-media thickness, stiffness, and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell counts were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy currently used in China is not associated with carotid artery stiffness in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients with good highly active antiretroviral therapy compliance. Human immunodeficiency virus may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Haohui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Changhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Ultrasound, Renmin Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China. Electronic address: meizhangcn@126.com.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D019562:Viral Load
keywords: AIDS; Artery stiffness; HAART; Ultrasound