Atherosclerosis risk in HIV-infected patients: The influence of hepatitis C virus co-infection

• Published in: Atherosclerosis Vol. 222; no. 1; pp. 274 - 277
• Main Authors: Sosner, Philippe, Wangermez, Marc, Chagneau-Derrode, Carine, Le Moal, Gwenaël, Silvain, Christine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; arteries; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Atherosclerosis - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; blood pressure; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Coinfection; Coronary heart disease; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heart; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - physiopathology; Humans; Intima–media thickness; liver; Liver fibrosis; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Male; Medical sciences; metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; mixed infection; monitoring; patients; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - diagnostic imaging; risk; Risk Factors; ultrasonics; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Liver fibrosis; HIV; Hepatitis C; Atherosclerosis; Intima–media thickness; Hepatic fibrosis; Immunopathology; Retroviridae; Intima-media thickness; Hepatic disease; Cardiovascular disease; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Infection; Vascular disease; Virus; Viral disease; Risk factor; Digestive diseases; Human immunodeficiency virus; Viral hepatitis C
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.02.027

Abstract Background The influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on atherosclerosis risk in HIV-infected patients has not been adequately evaluated in real-life situations. Objectives and methods We compared indexes of early atherosclerosis evaluated by echo-Doppler ultrasound (presence of plaque in carotid or femoral arteries) in 18 HCV–HIV co-infected patients versus 22 HIV mono-infected patients. Results Prevalence of subclinical carotid plaque was significantly higher in HCV–HIV co-infected patients ( p = 0.04), despite of the fact LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure (BP) were lower in the co-infected patients ( p = 0.003). HCV chronic infection (OR = 10; IC: 1.5–72; p = 0.02) was an independent risk factor. Conclusion This cross sectional study suggests that HCV infection might be an independent cardiovascular risk factor in HCV–HIV co-infected patients. HCV infection might be considered as not only a liver infection but also as a metabolic disease in HIV patients, justifying regular cardiovascular surveillance.