Intima-Media Thickness in the Carotid and Femoral Arteries for Detection of Arteriosclerosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Individuals.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of atherosclerosis is higher in HIV-positive people, who also experience it earlier than the general population.


OBJECTIVE
To assess and compare the prevalence of atherosclerosis evaluated by the intima-media thickness of carotid and femoral arteries, and by the ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) in HIV patients treated or not treated with protease inhibitors (PIs) and controls.


METHODS
Eighty HIV+ subjects (40 using PIs and 40 not using PIs) and 65 controls were included in the study. Atherosclerosis was diagnosed by (carotid and femoral) ITM measurement and ABPI. Classical risk factors for atherosclerosis and HIV were compared between the groups by statistical tests. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
An IMT > P75 or the presence of plaque was higher in the HIV+ than in the control group (37.5% vs 19%, p = 0.04). Comparative analysis showed a significant difference (p=0.014) in carotid IMT between HIV+ with PIs (0.71 ± 0.28 mm), without PIs 0.63 ± 0.11 mm and, and controls (0.59 ± 0.11 mm). There was no significant difference in femoral IMT between the groups or in ABPI between HIV+ subjects and controls. However, a significant difference (p=0.015) was found between HIV+ patients not treated with PIs (1.17 [1.08 - 1.23]), and controls 1.08 [1.07 - 1.17]).


CONCLUSIONS
In HIV patients, atherosclerosis is more prevalent and seems to occur earlier with particular characteristics compared with HIV-negative subjects.
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Emmanuelle Tenório Albuquerque Madruga
ET
Godoi
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Carlos Teixeira
CT
Brandt
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Heloisa Ramos
HR
Lacerda
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Jocelene Tenório Albuquerque Madruga
JT
Godoi
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Dinaldo Cavalcanti de
DC
Oliveira
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Gabriela Farias Araujo Sousa
GF
Costa
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Gerson Gomes Dos
GG
Santos Junior
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Kaliene Maria Estevão
KM
Leite
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Juannicelle Tenório Albuquerque Madruga
JT
Godoi
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
Adriana Ferraz de
AF
Vasconcelos
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric