title: Serum ferritin in HIV-positive patients is related to immune deficiency and inflammatory activity.
abstract: To analyse the prevalence of high ferritin levels in asymptomatic HIV patients and its related factors we conducted a cross-sectional study of a cohort of HIV outpatients in regular follow-up. Epidemiological, clinical, analytical and therapeutic data were collected. Patients completed a questionnaire about cardiovascular risk factors and underwent a physical examination and a 12-h fasting blood analysis. High ferritin levels were defined as a plasma ferritin level >200 µg/L in women and >300 µg/L in men. A total of 571 patients (78.1% men) were included. Median age was 43.2 years, HIV sexual transmission 68.5%, median CD4 count 474 cells/µL, 36.3% AIDS cases, 86.2% on antiretroviral therapy and 74.8% of them with undetectable viral load; 14.6% metabolic syndrome criteria, and mean cardiovascular risk at 10 years 6.67%. High ferritin levels prevalence was 11%, and related factors were a CD4 count <350 cells/µL (odds ratio, OR 2.37 [1.3-4.1], p = 0.003), ultrasensitive C-reactive protein >3 mg/L (OR 2.67 [1.5-4.7], p = 0.001) and chronic hepatitis C virus infection (OR 2.77 [1.5-4.9], p = 0.001). High ferritin levels are not uncommon in HIV patients, and they correlate with immunosuppression defined as CD4 count <350 cells/µL, higher ultrasensitive C-reactive protein and hepatitis C virus infection, and in contrast to the general population, they are not related to increased cardiovascular risk or metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: UGC Medicina Interna, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Calderón
authors.affiliation: UGC Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain FIMABIS, Málaga, Spain rosariopalaci@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.affiliation: UGC Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.affiliation: UGC Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain FIMABIS, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nuño
authors.affiliation: UGC Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain FIMABIS, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: UGC Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain FIMABIS, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Márquez
authors.affiliation: UGC Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Virgen de la Victoria, Málaga, Spain FIMABIS, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins
keywords: AIDS; HIV; Iron overload; cardiovascular risk; ferritin; immunodeficiency; metabolic syndrome