title: Changes in Serum Markers of Inflammation and Endothelial Activation in HIV-Infected Antiretroviral Naive Patients Starting A Treatment with Abacavir-Lamivudine or Tenofovir-Emtricitabine Plus Efavirenz.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between abacavir use and increased risk of myocardial infarction has been heavily debated, but cohort studies and randomized trials have provided conflicting results. Aim of our study is to compare the effect of abacavir and tenofovir on the inflammation and endothelial activation markers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an observational study of HIV-infected naïve patients starting tenofovir/emtricitabine (group A) or abacavir/lamivudine (group B) plus efavirenz. In the present analysis, we measured serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin and P-selectin at baseline and during a 48-week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a whole, 118 patients (93 males; mean age ± SD of 42.8 ± 10.1 years) were enrolled: 61 in group A and 57 in group B. In group A at weeks 24 and 48 the mean concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and Pselectin decreased significantly in comparison with respective baseline values. In group B at week 24 a significant increase in mean values of these markers was reported in comparison with group A, but after 48 weeks they significantly decreased in group B too and no significant differences between groups A and B were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, naïve patients starting tenofovir/emtricitabine or abacavir/lamivudine plus efavirenz showed after 48 weeks a significant and comparable decrease in serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, Eselectin and P-selectin, while the mean level of hs-CRP did not change significantly in any group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Clinics of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, via G. Massarenti 11 - I-40138 Bologna, Italy. leonardo.calza@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calza
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magistrelli
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Danese
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colangeli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borderi
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bon
authors.forename: Maria Carla
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D000068679:Emtricitabine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D000068698:Tenofovir / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D000099227:Abacavir
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D015415:Biomarkers; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D015224:Dideoxynucleosides; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019040:E-Selectin; D000068679:Emtricitabine; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D019259:Lamivudine; D019007:P-Selectin; D000068698:Tenofovir; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C492871:abacavir, lamivudine drug combination; D000099227:Abacavir; C098320:efavirenz