Evaluation of Myo-Intimal Media Thickness and Atheromatous Plaques in People Living with HIV from the Archiprevaleat Cohort vs. HIV-Negative Subjects

• Published in: Biomedicines Vol. 12; no. 4; p. 773
• Main Authors: Martini, Salvatore, Ricci, Elena Delfina, Masiello, Addolorata, Zacà, Sergio, Celesia, Benedetto Maurizio, Ferrara, Sergio, Di Filippo, Giovanni, Tartaglia, Alessandra, Basile, Rosa, Angiletta, Domenico, Maggi, Paolo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Analysis; Antilipemic agents; Antiretroviral therapy; Aorta; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Care and treatment; Cholesterol; Cross-sectional studies; Development and progression; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Doppler; Drug therapy; Dyslipidemia; Health aspects; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV (Viruses); HIV infection; HIV patients; Human immunodeficiency virus; Hypertension; IMT; Infection; Infections; Lipids; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Metabolic disorders; Plaques; Prognosis; Triglycerides; Ultrasonic imaging; United States > US; IMT; ART; HIV; plaques; Doppler
• ISSN: 2227-9059; 2227-9059
• DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040773

Background: Antiretroviral therapy has allowed a clear improvement in prognosis for HIV patients, but metabolic problems, such as dyslipidemia, remain. This can lead to the development of atheromatous plaques. Our study aims to evaluate whether HIV-positive (HIV+) patients show higher myo-intimal media thickness (IMT) and atheromatous plaques compared to HIV-negative (HIV−) patients. Methods: To evaluate the association between HIV infection in experienced patients and vascular pathology, we performed a cross-sectional study, observing 1006 patients, 380 HIV+ enrolled in the Archiprevaleat cohort, and 626 HIV− as a control group. All patients underwent a Doppler scan of the supra-aortic vessels. We compared the prevalence of IMT > 1.0 mm and plaques in the two groups. Results: Patients in the HIV+ group were younger than those in the HIV− group, with a lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and higher dyslipidemia. The prevalence of plaques in strata of age was higher in the HIV+ group than in the HIV− group and was associated with the length of ART exposure. Conclusions: Our cross-sectional, retrospective study shows that HIV+ experienced patients are at greater risk of IMT and atheromatous plaques compared to HIV−. The risk is associated with being HIV+ and with the length of ART exposure. This finding may be useful in preventing cardiovascular risk.