Significant Decrease in Plasma Levels of D-Dimer, Interleukin-8, and Interleukin-12 After a 12-Month Treatment with Rosuvastatin in HIV-Infected Patients Under Antiretroviral Therapy.
Statins have shown anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties in both general and HIV-infected population, but their effect on plasma D-dimer levels is controversial and it has not been investigated to date in HIV-positive patients. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of rosuvastatin on D-dimer and other serum inflammation markers among these subjects.



Prospective, cohort study of HIV-1-infected adult patients receiving a stable combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), who started a lipid-lowering therapy with rosuvastatin (10 mg daily) and were followed up for at least 12 months. The primary endpoint was the change at month 12 in the median plasma concentration of D-dimer. The secondary endpoints included the variation in median plasma levels of these inflammatory biomarkers: interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-12 (IL-12).



Sixty-two patients were enrolled in the study, and the endpoints were available for 54 subjects. After 12 months, a significant decrease in median plasma concentration of D-dimer was observed (-21.4%; interquartile range [IQR], -35.5; -4.2; p = .029). With regard to the inflammatory biomarkers, a significant decrease in median levels of IL-8 (-24.6%; IQR, -30.8; -1.8; p = .012) and IL-12 (-18.7%; IQR, -25.8; +2.5; p = .033) was also observed. Rosuvastatin led to a significant reduction in serum lipid values and showed a good tolerability profile.



Our findings show that a 12-month treatment with rosuvastatin associated with an effective cART can significantly decrease the plasma levels of D-dimer, IL-8, and IL-12, and suggest a potential role for this statin to reduce activated coagulation and systemic inflammation among HIV-infected persons.
1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Clinics of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Leonardo
L
Calza
1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Clinics of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Vincenzo
V
Colangeli
1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Clinics of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Eleonora
E
Magistrelli
1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Clinics of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Ilaria
I
Contadini
2 Department of Unit of Microbiology, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Isabella
I
Bon
2 Department of Unit of Microbiology, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Maria Carla
MC
Re
3 Department of Centralized Laboratory, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Matteo
M
Conti
3 Department of Centralized Laboratory, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Rita
R
Mancini
1 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Clinics of Infectious Diseases, "Alma Mater Studiorum" University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy .
Pierluigi
P
Viale
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000032:analysis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium
HIV; antiretroviral therapy; immune activation; inflammation