title: Cholesterol Levels in HIV- and/or HCV-Infected Drug Users Living in Argentina.
abstract: Improved understanding of cholesterol levels in HIV- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected persons in Argentina will guide optimal antiretroviral therapy. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study in Argentina to describe associations between HIV, HCV, and cholesterol. Of the 202 participants, 21 were HIV infected, 15 were HCV infected, 46 were HIV/HCV coinfected, and 120 were HIV/HCV uninfected. HIV/HCV-uninfected participants had the highest total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Multivariate modeling revealed that HIV/HCV-coinfected patients had the lowest TC levels (-28.7 mg/dL, P < .001) compared to the HIV/HCV-uninfected reference group. Hepatitis C virus and HIV/HCV coinfection were associated with lower LDL levels (-21.4 mg/dL, P = .001 and -20.3 mg/dL, P < .0001, respectively). HIV and HIV/HCV coinfection, but not HCV alone, were associated with lower high-density lipoprotein levels (-9.1 mg/dL, P = .0008 and -6.8 mg/dL, P = .0006, respectively). Further study is needed to examine whether the more favorable lipid profile observed in HIV/HCV-coinfected persons is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA rkohli@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
authors.forename: Rakhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Winston
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Reeducación Social, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Estela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muzzio
authors.affiliation: Fundación de Ayuda al Inmunodeficiente, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benetucci
authors.affiliation: Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weissenbacher
authors.affiliation: Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Tamsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Argentina; HIV; cholesterol; hepatitis C