title: Effects of Therapy with Maraviroc on the Carotid Intima Media Thickness in HIV-1/HCV Co-infected Patients.
abstract: To evaluate, in human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis C virus co-infected patients, the impact of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) antagonist maraviroc-based antiretroviral therapy on the carotid intima media thickness and on atheromasic plaques.
  
  
  
  In this pilot prospective study, 12 HIV-HCV co-infected patients underwent color-Doppler ultrasonography before and 48 weeks after switching to a dual therapy based on maraviroc plus protease inhibitors boosted with ritonavir. Changes of intima media thickness, inflammatory and endothelial adhesion biomarkers levels, Veterans Aging Cohort Study index and Framingham risk score were evaluated.
  
  
  
  At baseline 11 (91.6%) patients showed pathological ultrasonographic findings. After 48 weeks, two patients showed an amelioration of intima media thickness. Of the remaining patients with plaques, four showed a reduction of the previously diagnosed plaque; no patients worsened.
  
  
  
  Our data suggest that CCR5 inhibition could reduce the development of atherosclerosis especially in the non-calcific stage and could play an important role in the blockade of atheromasic plaque progression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy p_maggi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maggi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perilli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saracino
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ladisa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angarano
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D065100:CCR5 Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D060085:Coinfection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D000077592:Maraviroc; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D065100:CCR5 Receptor Antagonists; D003510:Cyclohexanes; D014230:Triazoles; D000077592:Maraviroc
keywords: CCR5; HCV; HIV; atheromasic plaques; maraviroc