title: Effects of pregnancy on endothelial function and cardiovascular disease risk in HIV-infected women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and brachial artery diameter (BAD) in HIV-infected pregnant women compared to healthy pregnant controls, and determined their relationships to variables of interest, including the HIV status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were enrolled prospectively for this longitudinal, observational study. Body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), fasting lipoprotein profiles, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), FMD, and BAD were assessed at 10-12, 20-22, and 32-35weeks gestation in HIV-infected women and healthy controls aged 18-45years with singleton pregnancies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen HIV-infected women and 19 controls were enrolled. Groups were similar at baseline except there were more Caucasians in the control group (P<0.01). FMD and BAD did not change during pregnancy in either group, and there were no differences between groups. In multivariable regression analysis, FMD was associated with BAD (P=0.002), but not with age, BMI, BP, TC, TG, HOMA-IR, or HIV status. No variables were associated with BAD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No differences were observed in FMD or BAD between HIV-infected and healthy pregnant women, and neither measure changed significantly during pregnancy. HIV status did not affect endothelial function or brachial artery diameter. Pregnancy does not appear to further increase the CVD risk associated with HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Infectious Disease Clinic, via del pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy. Electronic address: kety.luzi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kety
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luzi
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA, USA; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Allison Ross
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Eckard
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Institute of Cardiology, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lattanzi
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Infectious Disease Clinic, via del pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zona
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Institute of Cardiology, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Modena
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Infectious Disease Clinic, via del pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchinetti
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Infectious Disease Clinic, via del pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guaraldi
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Endothelial function; Flow-mediated vasodilation; HIV; Pregnancy