The consequences of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy use for cardiovascular disease risk: shifting paradigms

Factors associated with late initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Iran's HIV/AIDS surveillance data

Early initiation of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in HIV patients is essential for effectively suppressing the viral load and prognosis. This study utilized National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data in Iran to identify factors associated factors with the duration to initiate ART. This hybrid cross-sectional historical cohort study was conducted on Iran's National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data from 2001 to 2019. Sociodemographic characteristics, route of transmission, HIV diagnosis date, and ART initiation date were collected. Multivariable linear and quantile regression models were employed to analyze the duration to initiate ART by considering predictor variables. This study included 17,062 patients (mean age 34.14 ± 10.77 years, 69.49% males). Multivariate quantile regression coefficients varied across different distributions of the dependent variable (i.e., duration to initiate ART) for several independent variables. Generally, male gender, injecting drug use (IDU), and having an HIV-positive spouse were significantly associated with an increased duration to initiate ART (p < 0.05). However, a significant decrease was observed in older patients, those with a university level education, men who had sex with men (MSM), and patients diagnosed after 2016 (p < 0.05). Despite improvements in the duration to initiate ART after implementing the WHO's 2016 program in Iran, various sociodemographic groups were still vulnerable to delayed ART initiation in the region. Therefore, programs including early testing, early ART initiation, active care, educational and cultural interventions, and appropriate incentives are required for these groups.

Strategies of Managing Repeated Measures: Using Synthetic Random Forest to Predict HIV Viral Suppression Status Among Hospitalized Persons with HIV

The HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a major public health concern since the 1980s; untreated HIV infection has numerous consequences on quality of life. To optimize patients' health outcomes and to reduce HIV transmission, this study focused on vulnerable populations of people living with HIV (PLWH) and compared different predictive strategies for viral suppression using longitudinal or repeated measures. The four methods of predicting viral suppression are (1) including the repeated measures of each feature as predictors, (2) utilizing only the initial (baseline) value of the feature as predictor, (3) using the last observed value as the predictors and (4) using a growth curve estimated from the features to create individual-specific prediction of growth curves as features. This study suggested the individual-specific prediction of the growth curve performed the best in terms of lowest error rate on an independent set of test data.

Effect of Sex on Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in People Living With HIV

Background Impaired coronary endothelial function (CEF) predicts cardiovascular events and occurs in people living with HIV (PLWH). Women compared with men living with HIV have worse cardiovascular outcomes, but prior CEF studies included few women. The authors aimed to compare CEF in women with HIV versus without HIV, investigate sex differences in CEF and PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) (a proinflammatory biomarker), and evaluate whether increased serum levels of PCSK9 are associated with CEF in PLWH. Methods and Results Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to measure CEF (as percent change in coronary cross-sectional area and coronary blood flow during isometric handgrip exercise, an endothelial-dependent stressor) and serum PCSK9 levels were measured in 106 PLWH and 76 people without HIV. CEF was significantly reduced in women with versus without HIV (cross-sectional area change -0.5%±9.7 versus 9.5%±3.2, respectively). After adjustment for age, body mass index, and menopausal status, women with HIV still had reduced CEF (percentage of cross-sectional area: ß -8.3 [-13 to -3.6], P=0.001) compared with women without HIV. PCSK9 was elevated in women living with HIV versus without (306 ng/mL [200-412 ng/mL] versus 180 ng/mL [154-223 ng/mL], P<0.001), and no sex differences in either CEF or PCSK9 were detected in PLWH. Elevated PCSK9 was associated with impaired CEF in PLWH; however, no significant sex differences in the association were detected. Conclusions Among PLWH, coronary endothelial dysfunction is present in women and comparable to men. PCSK9 is higher in women with versus without HIV and a significant inverse relationship between PCSK9 and CEF was shown. Future studies should determine whether PLWH would benefit from interventions to improve endothelial function.

Factors Associated With Late Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation Among People Living With HIV in Southern Iran: A Historical Cohort Study

Objectives

Late initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with poor outcome among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and higher risk of transmission of infection. This study was conducted to identify the determinants of late ART initiation among PLHIV in Southern Iran.

Methods

A historical cohort study was conducted on 1,326 PLHIV of ≥15 years of age who were registered with the behavioral diseases counseling center (BDCC) in southern Iran from August 1997 to March 2021. Late ART initiation was defined as a CD4 cell count &lt;200 cells/mm3 or having a clinical AIDS diagnosis at the time of ART initiation. The required demographic and clinical data were collected from the patients' medical records. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to define late ART initiation associated factors.

Results

Late ART initiation was found among 81.9% of patients. Based on the results of the multivariate analysis, older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.00–1.04), being single (ORsingle/married = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.17–2.78), history of drug use (ORyes/no = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.02–2.62), year of ART initiation (OR2011−2013/2018−2021 = 3.65, 95% CI = 2.28–5.86), and possible route of transmission (ORdruginjection/sexual = 7.34, 95% CI = 1.16–46.21) were directly associated with the risk of late ART initiation.

Conclusions

The results show that the prevalence of late ART initiation was alarmingly high. For better infection control and better prognosis of infection, people at high risk need to be provided with timely services (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, training, and social support).

Neuroimmunology of CNS HIV Infection: A Narrative Review

This short review provides an overview of the interactions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV), immune and inflammatory reactions, and CNS injury over the course of infection. Systemic infection is the overall driver of disease and serves as the “platform” for eventual CNS injury, setting the level of immune dysfunction and providing both the HIV seeding and immune-inflammatory responses to the CNS. These systemic processes determine the timing of and vulnerability to HIV-related neuronal injury which occurs in a separate “compartment” with features that parallel their systemic counterparts but also evolve independently. Direct CNS HIV infection, along with opportunistic infections, can have profound neurological consequences for the infected individual. HIV-related CNS morbidities are of worldwide importance but are enhanced by the particular epidemiological, socioeconomic and environmental factors that heighten the impact of HIV infection in Africa.

Atherosclerosis in HIV Patients: What Do We Know so Far?

For the past several decades, humanity has been dealing with HIV. This disease is one of the biggest global health problems. Fortunately, modern antiretroviral therapy allows patients to manage the disease, improving their quality of life and their life expectancy. In addition, the use of these drugs makes it possible to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus to almost zero. Atherosclerosis is another serious pathology that leads to severe health problems, including disability and, often, the death of the patient. An effective treatment for atherosclerosis has not yet been developed. Both types of immune response, innate and adaptive, are important components of the pathogenesis of this disease. In this regard, the peculiarities of the development of atherosclerosis in HIV carriers are of particular scientific interest. In this review, we have tried to summarize the data on atherosclerosis and its development in HIV carriers. We also looked at the classic therapeutic methods and their features concerning the concomitant diagnosis.

Assessment of the impact of HIV infection and anti-retroviral treatment on the cardiometabolic health of pregnant mothers and their offspring (ARTMOMSBABES)

BACKGROUND

The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is becoming more prevalent in pregnant women though not much data is available for pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Foetoplacental vascular endothelial dysfunction is thought to be at the origin of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity later on in life. Because HIV and anti-retroviral treatment (ARTs) are associated with endothelial dysfunction, children exposed in utero to these conditions may be at greater risk of developing CVDs. Despite the high prevalence of HIV in pregnant South African women, little is known about the effects of ART on the cardiovascular health of the mother and offspring. Hence, the proposed study intends to investigate how HIV/ARTs may affect the cardiovascular health of the mother and offspring at different time points during the pregnancy and up to 2 years after birth.

METHODS

A longitudinal case-control study in HIV positive pregnant women on ART and HIV negative pregnant women will be conducted. All pregnant women will be assessed for cardio-metabolic risk factors and markers (lipids, anthropometric and glycaemic indies, oxidative stress), hemodynamic status (blood pressure parameters) and vascular function (arterial compliance, retinal microvasculature, uterine artery mean pulsatility index). Child health will be monitored in utero and postnatally via routine foetal health screening, placental integrity, anthropometry, blood pressure parameters, markers of oxidative stress and endothelial function in cord blood and cardiovascular epigenetic markers in urine.

DISCUSSION

There is a paucity of studies in South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa as a whole that utilised a longitudinal study model to assess the effects of ARTs on vascular endothelial changes in pregnant women living with HIV and the cardiometabolic health of their offspring. This study will therefore help to monitor changes in cardiometabolic risk during pregnancy and in children exposed in utero to HIV-infection and ART use. Findings from this study will provide useful information for developing guidelines on the use of ARTs in pregnancy and management of cardiometabolic health of the offspring of HIV positive mothers.

Incidence of cardiometabolic diseases in a Lesotho HIV cohort: Evidence for policy decision-making

Background

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has been associated with the development of certain cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). The burden of CMDs amongst ART-experienced patients in sub-Saharan Africa was unknown.

Objective

We quantified the burden of CMDs and identified the associated risk factors in a large treatment cohort on ART at a high-volume facility in Lesotho.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we extracted data from the daily dispensing electronic system and routine clinical records of 785 adults on ART between 2011 and 2015 in Maseru, Lesotho. CMD was defined as a diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes mellitus or dyslipidaemia (singly or collectively). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the disease burden; Kaplan–Meier curves and cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to examine the impact of the ART regimen and identify the risk factors associated with the occurrence of CMD.

Results

Of the 785 participants, 473 (60%) were women. The median age of the group was 42 years, interquartile range (IQR), 36–51 years. The overall incidence of CMD was 5.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.4–7.1) per 100 person-months of follow-up. The median time to onset of CMD was 16.6 months (IQR = 7.4–23.4). ART was not associated with the occurrence of CMD (cause-specific hazard ratio [CHR] = 1.55; 95% CI = 0.14–16.85; P = 0.72). Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with the occurrence of diabetes mellitus (CHR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.14–1.38; P = 0.026).

Conclusion

The incidence of CMD in this relatively young patient population is low yet noteworthy. We recommend that patients living with HIV and AIDS should be routinely screened for CMD. Higher BMI is generally associated with the occurrence of CMD.

Metabolic factors and post-traumatic arthritis may influence the increased rate of surgical site infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus following total hip arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

The impact of CD4+ T-cell count and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the rate of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) undergoing total hip arthroplasty is still unclear. The goals of this study were to assess the rate of perioperative infection at a large tertiary care referral center and to identify risk factors in HIV+ patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODS

This study was a prospective, observational study at a single medical center from 2000-2017. Patients who were HIV+ and underwent THA were followed from the preoperative assessment period, through surgery and for a 2-year follow-up period.

RESULTS

Sixteen of 144 HIV+ patients (11%) undergoing THA developed perioperative surgical site infections. Fourteen patients (10%) required revision THA within a range of 12 to 97 days after the initial surgery. The patients' mean age was 49.6 ± 4.5 years, and the most common diagnosis prompting THA was osteonecrosis (96%). Patients who developed SSI had a lower waist-hip ratio (0.86 vs. 0.93, p = 0.047), lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (45.8 vs. 52.5, p = 0.015) and were more likely to have post-traumatic arthritis (12.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.008). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that current alcohol use and higher waist-hip ratio were significant protectors against infection (p < 0.05). No other demographic, medical, immunologic parameters, or specific HAART regimens were associated with perioperative infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunologic status as measured by CD4+ cell count, HIV viral load, and medical therapy do not appear to influence the development of SSI in HIV+ patients undergoing THA. Metabolic factors and post-traumatic arthritis may influence the increased rate of infection in HIV+ patients following THA.

HIV-related cardiovascular diseases: the search for a unifying hypothesis

Although the extensive rollout of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy resulted in a longer life expectancy for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), such individuals display a relatively increased occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This health challenge stimulated significant research interests in the field, leading to an improved understanding of both lifestyle-related risk factors and the underlying mechanisms of CVD onset in PLHIV. However, despite such progress, the precise role of various risk factors and mechanisms underlying the development of HIV-mediated CVD still remains relatively poorly understood. Therefore, we review CVD onset in PLHIV and focus on 1) the spectrum of cardiovascular complications that typically manifest in such persons and 2) underlying mechanisms that are implicated in this process. Here, the contributions of such factors and modulators and underlying mechanisms are considered in a holistic and integrative manner to generate a unifying hypothesis that includes identification of the core pathways mediating CVD onset. The review focuses on the sub-Saharan African context, as there are relatively high numbers of PLHIV residing within this region, indicating that the greater CVD risk will increasingly threaten the well-being and health of its citizens. It is our opinion that such an approach helps point the way for future research efforts to improve treatment strategies and/or lifestyle-related modifications for PLHIV.

Tualang honey ameliorates viral load, CD4 counts and improves quality of life in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infected patients

This is the first study to report on the effects of honey in asymptomatic HIV positive subjects in ameliorating CD4 count, viral load (VL) and quality of life (QOL). It is a randomized, controlled, open labelled study, comparing the effects of Tualang honey (TH) administration for six months at three different doses: 20 g (THL), 40 g (THI) or 60 g (THH) daily compared with control (no administered treatment, THC). Only asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (n=95) having CD4 count 250-600 cell/ml, not on antiretrovirals were enrolled. Blood, (together with QOL questionnaires administration) were investigated at baseline, three and six months (CD4 cell count) while VL was determined only at baseline and six months. Significant reductions in CD4 counts in THL and THC groups (p= 0.003 for both) were seen with no significant reductions in the CD4 counts in THI and THH groups (p=0.447 and 0.053 respectively). There was improvement in VL in THC and THI (130% and 32% respectively) and reductions in THL and THH (26% and 8% respectively). Within and between group analyses for VL indicated significant differences between THL and THH compared to THC. In addition, significant improvement in QOL of groups which received TH was noted. TH has the potential to improve the QOL (physical and psychological) and CD4 counts. There was a trend of lower VL in asymptomatic HIV subjects following TH administration thus supporting the possible role of TH in boosting the immune system by improving CD4 counts, causing VL reductions in HIV positive subjects.

Triad of the Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease in People Living with HIV? Association Between Risk Factors, HIV Infection, and Use of Antiretroviral Therapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review is focused on cardiovascular risk factors in HIV-infected people.

RECENT FINDINGS

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly increased the life expectancy of HIV-infected people. Thus, this population has experienced non-HIV-related diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases. Thus, in our review, we intend to understand the cardiovascular risk factors that trigger this situation. We have demonstrated that both ART and traditional cardiovascular risk factors contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected people. Thus, it becomes important to stratify the risk factors to reduce this scenario.

Effect of chocolate and mate tea on the lipid profile of individuals with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy: A clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

HIV/AIDS is generally associated with dyslipidemia and oxidative imbalance, which are caused by the infection itself and by antiretroviral therapy (ART). The flavonoids, found in cocoa and yerba mate, have antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the consumption of dark chocolate and mate tea on the lipid profiles of individuals with HIV/AIDS who are undergoing ART.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial was conducted with 92 patients receiving ART for ≥6 mo and with viral suppression. The participants were randomized to receive either 65 g of chocolate (with 2148 mg polyphenols) or placebo chocolate (without polyphenols) or 3 g of mate tea (with 107 mg total phenols and 84.24 mg chlorogenic acid) or placebo mate (without polyphenols) for 15 d each, separated by a washout period of 15 d. The lipid profile, including determination of electronegative low-density lipoprotein, was determined after each intervention. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance using the pkcross procedure of the Stata 11.0 software.

RESULTS

Analysis of variance revealed a significant overall difference in mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) between all supplements (P = 0.047). Using the paired t test, the effect was attributed to the consumption of dark chocolate (P = 0.046). The other parameters investigated were not improved.

CONCLUSIONS

The consumption of dark chocolate for 15 d improved HDL-C concentrations of individuals with HIV/AIDS undergoing ART, possibly due to the presence of fatty acids (stearic acid), polyphenols, and theobromine. This fact is important for the cardiovascular protection of these individuals.

Effect of Chocolate and Yerba Mate Phenolic Compounds on Inflammatory and Oxidative Biomarkers in HIV/AIDS Individuals

Flavonoids in cocoa and yerba mate have a beneficial role on inflammation and oxidative disorders. Their effect on HIV individuals has not been studied yet, despite the high cardiovascular risk of this population. This study investigated the role of cocoa and yerba mate consumption on oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in HIV+ individuals. A cross-over, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 92 individuals on antiretroviral therapy for at least six months and at viral suppression. Participants were randomized to receive either 65 g of chocolate or chocolate-placebo or 3 g of yerba mate or mate-placebo for 15 days each, alternating by a washout period of 15 days. At baseline, and at the end of each intervention regimen, data regarding anthropometry, inflammatory, oxidative and immunological parameters were collected. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, lipid profile, white blood cell profile and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were assessed. There was a difference between mean concentrations of HDL-c (ANOVA; p ≤ 0.05) among the different regimens: dark chocolate, chocolate-placebo, yerba mate and mate-placebo. When a paired Student t-test was used for comparisons between mean HDL-c at baseline and after each regimen, the mean concentration of HDL-c was higher after supplementation with dark chocolate (p = 0.008).

Effect of AIDS on women who have sex-determined health issues

Worldwide, women account for a growing percentage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and more than half of all HIV infections. For many years, morphologic imaging methods were the main approaches employed to investigate HIV and its complications. However, during the past decade, advancements in PET and SPECT imaging technologies opened new possibilities for improved understanding of the pathophysiological processes in HIV. Diagnosis of early HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) is important, as many of its symptoms can be caused by other conditions common to people with HIV/AIDS. Presently, there are no PET and SPECT tracers or combination of markers for HAND, hence novel HAND-specific tracers are needed if nuclear medicine is to play a role in solving the problem of the HAND "epidemic." As both highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced lipoatrophy and cardiovascular diseases are characterized by ongoing inflammation, FDG-PET/CT imaging may represent an important imaging technique for better understanding the metabolic risk in HIV-infected women on HAART. HIV-infected women are at increased risk for the development of human papilloma virus-associated neoplasms such as cervical and anal carcinomas; these aggressive tumors could be treated better with integration of FDG-PET as part of the standard pretreatment workup. A similar value of FDG-PET may be realized in women with HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma, as they have more extensive cutaneous disease than men do. In the era of HAART, the incidence and local invasiveness of breast cancer may change, thus creating a need to redefine the pathophysiology of breast cancer in HIV-positive women. Finally, mammary tuberculosis, occasionally the presenting symptom in HIV-infected women, may present with nonspecific clinical, radiological, and histologic findings. In these women, FDG-PET can be of value to detect the lesion for a representative biopsy, staging to exclude pulmonary and other extrapulmonary lesions, and also for therapy monitoring.

Lymphoid fibrosis occurs in long-term nonprogressors and persists with antiretroviral therapy but may be reversible with curative interventions

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication causes lymphoid tissue (LT) fibrosis, which causes CD4(+) T-cell depletion. It is unknown whether people who spontaneously control HIV replication have LT fibrosis. We measured LT fibrosis and CD4(+) T cells in 25 HIV controllers, 10 noncontrollers, 45 HIV-positive individuals receiving therapy, and 10 HIV-negative individuals. Controllers had significant LT fibrosis and CD4(+) T-cell depletion, similar to noncontrollers, but the so-called Berlin patient (in whom HIV infection was cured) had near normal LT. Thus, LT fibrosis occurs in all HIV-infected subjects, and current therapy does not reverse it. Reversal of fibrosis during a curative intervention suggests that ongoing low-level virus production may maintain LT fibrosis.

Effects of ezetimibe on cholesterol metabolism in HIV-infected patients with protease inhibitor-associated dyslipidemia: a single-arm intervention trial

Background

The effects of ezetimibe on cholesterol metabolism in HIV-infected patients receiving boosted protease inhibitors have not been thoroughly assessed. The aim of this study was to assess cholesterol homeostasis in patients with PI associated dyslipidemia and its relationship with the response to treatment with the cholesterol-absorption inhibitor ezetimibe.

Methods

Fifteen patients with ritonavir-boosted PI-containig therapy and LDL-cholesterol > 3.36 mmol/L (>130 mg/dL) were assessed at baseline and after an 8-week course of ezetimibe 10 mg/d. Serum non-cholesterol sterols were measured at each visit as markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption. Total-, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol triglycerides, apolipoproteins A1 and B, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, CD4 cells and HIV-1 RNA were also measured.

Results

Ezetimibe treatment was well tolerated in all patients and resulted in significant reductions in total cholesterol (-11.4%, p = .002), LDL-cholesterol (-20.4%, p = .003), non-HDL-cholesterol (-13.4%, p = .002) and apolipoprotein B (-9.1%, p = .021).

Treatment with ezetimibe was associated with decreased cholesterol absorption markers (campesterol-to-cholesterol ratio -43.0%, p = .001; sitosterol-to-cholesterol ratio -41.9%, p = .001) and increased synthesis markers (lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratio 53.2%, p = .005). Baseline absorption or synthesis markers were unrelated to the response to treatment. CD4 cell count and plasma HIV-1 RNA remained unchanged.

Conclusions

The level of cholesterol absorption or synthesis does not appear to be a major determinant of the responsiveness to ezetimibe in patients on ritonavir-boosted PI-containing therapy.

Trial registration

EudraCT: 2006-006156-36

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2334-14-497) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

FDG-PET imaging in HIV infection and tuberculosis

The intersection and syndemic interaction between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics have global prevalence with devastating morbidity and massive mortality. Using FDG-PET imaging it was shown that in HIV-infected individuals, involvement of the head and neck precedes that of the chest and of the abdomen. The sequence of lymph node involvement observed suggests the existence of a diffusible activation mediator that may be targeted via therapeutic intervention strategies. Furthermore, the degree of FDG uptake proved directly related to viral load and inversely related to CD4 cell count. Available data in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining cancers further suggest that FDG-PET/CT imaging may be useful for prognostication of cervical cancer and for identifying appropriate sites for biopsy, staging, and monitoring lymphoproliferative activity owing to HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma and multicentric Castleman disease. Inversely, in HIV-associated lymphoma, FDG uptake in HIV-involved lymphoid tissue was shown to reduce the specificity of FDG-PET imaging findings, the effect of which in clinical practice warrants further investigation. In the latter setting, knowledge of viremia appears to be essential for FDG-PET image interpretation. Early HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, formerly known as AIDS dementia complex, proved to be characterized by striatal hypermetabolism and progressive HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder or AIDS dementia complex by a decrease in subcortical and cortical metabolism. In lipodystrophic HIV-infected individuals, lipodystrophy proved associated with increased glucose uptake by adipose tissue, likely resulting from the metabolic stress of adipose tissue in response to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, ongoing chronic low-grade infection in arteries of HIV-infected individuals could be depicted by FDG-PET/CT imaging. And there is promising data that FDG-PET/CT in HIV may serve as a new marker for the evaluation of thymic function in HIV-infected patients. In the setting of TB, FDG-PET has proven unable to differentiate malignancy from TB in patients presenting with solitary pulmonary nodules, including those suffering from HIV, and thus cannot be used as a tool to reduce futile biopsy or thoracotomy in these patients. In patients presenting with extrapulmonary TB, FDG-PET imaging was found to be significantly more efficient when compared with CT for the identification of more sites of involvement. Thus supporting that FDG-PET/CT can demonstrate lesion extent, serve as guide for biopsy with aspiration for culture, assist surgery planning and contribute to follow-up. Limited available data suggest that quantitative FDG-PET findings may allow for prediction or rapid assessment, at 4 months following treatment instigation, of response to antituberculostatics in TB-infected HIV patients. These results and more recent findings suggest a role for FDG-PET/CT imaging in the evaluation of therapeutic response in TB patients.

A literature review on cardiovascular risk in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: implications for clinical management

Introduction

In recent years, there has been growing concern about an increasing rate of cardiovascular diseases in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, which could be associated with side effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy. It is likely that the metabolic disorders related to anti-human immunodeficiency virus treatment will eventually translate into a increased cardiovascular risk in patients submitted to such regimens.

Objective

To evaluate if human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy are at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than human immunodeficiency virus infected patients not receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, or the general population.

Research design and methods

We conducted a computer-based search in representative databases, and also performed manual tracking of citations in selected articles.

Result

The available evidence suggests an excess risk of cardiovascular events in human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons compared to non-human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy is associated with increased levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and morphological signs of cardiovascular diseases. Some evidence suggested that human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens are at increased risk of dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction, particularly if the highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen contains a protease inhibitor.

Conclusion

Physicians must weigh the cardiovascular risk against potential benefits when prescribing highly active antiretroviral therapy. Careful cardiac screening is warranted for patients who are being evaluated for, or who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens, particularly for those with known underlying cardiovascular risk factors. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients will lead to the discovery of new drugs that will reduce cardiovascular risk in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Inflammatory biomarker changes and their correlation with Framingham cardiovascular risk and lipid changes in antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients treated for 144 weeks with abacavir/lamivudine/atazanavir with or without ritonavir in ARIES

Propensity for developing coronary heart disease (CHD) is linked with Framingham-defined cardiovascular risk factors and elevated inflammatory biomarkers. Cardiovascular risk and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated in ARIES, a Phase IIIb/IV clinical trial in which 515 antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected subjects initially received abacavir/lamivudine + atazanavir/ritonavir for 36 weeks. Subjects who were virologically suppressed by week 30 were randomized 1:1 at week 36 to either maintain or discontinue ritonavir for an additional 108 weeks. Framingham 10-year CHD risk scores (FRS) and risk category of <6% or ≥6%, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were assessed at baseline, week 84, and week 144. Biomarkers were stratified by FRS category. When ritonavir-boosted/nonboosted treatment groups were combined, median hsCRP did not change significantly between baseline (1.6 mg/liter) and week 144 (1.4 mg/liter) in subjects with FRS <6% (p=0.535) or with FRS ≥6% (1.9 mg/liter vs. 2.0 mg/liter, respectively; p=0.102). Median IL-6 was similar for subjects with FRS <6% (p=0.267) at baseline (1.6 pg/ml) and week 144 (1.4 pg/ml) and for FRS ≥6% (2.0 pg/ml vs. 2.2 pg/ml, respectively; p=0.099). Median Lp-PLA(2) decreased significantly (p<0.001) between baseline (197 nmol/min/ml) and week 144 (168 nmol/min/ml) in subjects with FRS <6% and with FRS ≥6% (238 nmol/min/ml vs. 175 nmol/min/ml, respectively; p<0.001). In conclusion, in antiretroviral-naive subjects treated with abacavir-based therapy for 144 weeks, median inflammatory biomarker levels for hsCRP and IL-6 generally remained stable with no significant difference between baseline and week 144 for subjects with either FRS <6% or FRS ≥6%. Lp-PLA(2) median values declined significantly over 144 weeks for subjects in either FRS stratum.

Retinal arterioles narrow with increasing duration of anti-retroviral therapy in HIV infection: a novel estimator of vascular risk in HIV?

OBJECTIVES

HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of age-related morbidity mediated by immune dysfunction, atherosclerosis and inflammation. Changes in retinal vessel calibre may reflect cumulative structural damage arising from these mechanisms. The relationship of retinal vessel calibre with clinical and demographic characteristics was investigated in a population of HIV-infected individuals in South Africa.

METHODS

Case-control study of 491 adults ≥30 years, composed of 242 HIV-infected adults and 249 age- and gender-matched HIV-negative controls. Retinal vessel calibre was measured using computer-assisted techniques to determine mean arteriolar and venular diameters of each eye.

RESULTS

The median age was 40 years (IQR: 35-48 years). Among HIV-infected adults, 87.1% were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (median duration, 58 months), their median CD4 count was 468 cells/µL, and 84.3% had undetectable plasma viral load. Unadjusted mean retinal arteriolar diameters were 163.67±17.69 µm in cases and 161.34±17.38 µm in controls (p = 0.15). Unadjusted mean venular diameters were 267.77±18.21 µm in cases and 270.81±18.98 µm in controls (p = 0.07). Age modified the effect of retinal arteriolar and venular diameters in relation to HIV status, with a tendency towards narrower retinal diameters in HIV cases but not in controls. Among cases, retinal arteriolar diameters narrowed with increasing duration of HAART, independently of age (167.83 µm <3 years of HAART vs. 158.89 µm >6 years, p-trend = 0.02), and with a HIV viral load >10,000 copies/mL while on HAART (p = 0.05). HIV-related venular changes were not detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Narrowing of retinal arteriolar diameters is associated with HAART duration and viral load, and may reflect heightened inflammatory and pro-atherogenic states of the systemic vasculature. Measurement of retinal vascular calibre could be an innovative non-invasive method of estimating vascular risk in HIV-infected individuals.

18FDG PET-CT imaging detects arterial inflammation and early atherosclerosis in HIV-infected adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors

BACKGROUND

Persistent vascular inflammation has been implicated as an important cause for a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in HIV-infected adults. In several populations at high risk for CVD, vascular 18Fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) uptake quantified using 3D-positron emission-computed tomography (PET-CT) has been used as a molecular level biomarker for the presence of metabolically active proinflammatory macrophages in rupture-prone early atherosclerotic plaques. We hypothesized that 18FDG PET-CT imaging would detect arterial inflammation and early atherosclerosis in HIV-infected adults with modest CVD risk.

METHODS

We studied 9 HIV-infected participants with fully suppressed HIV viremia on antiretroviral therapy (8 men, median age 52 yrs, median BMI 29 kg/m2, median CD4 count 655 cells/μL, 33% current smokers) and 5 HIV-negative participants (4 men, median age 44 yrs, median BMI 25 kg/m2, no current smokers). Mean Framingham Risk Scores were higher for HIV-infected persons (9% vs. 2%, p < 0.01). 18FDG (370 MBq) was administered intravenously. 3D-PET-CT images were obtained 3.5 hrs later. 18FDG uptake into both carotid arteries and the aorta was compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Right and left carotid 18FDG uptake was greater (P < 0.03) in the HIV group (1.77 ±0.26, 1.33 ±0.09 target to background ratio (TBR)) than the control group (1.05 ± 0.10, 1.03 ± 0.05 TBR). 18FDG uptake in the aorta was greater in HIV (1.50 ±0.16 TBR) vs control group (1.24 ± 0.05 TBR), but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Carotid artery 18FDG PET-CT imaging detected differences in vascular inflammation and early atherosclerosis between HIV-infected adults with CVD risk factors and healthy HIV-seronegative controls. These findings confirm the utility of this molecular level imaging approach for detecting and quantifying glucose uptake into inflammatory macrophages present in metabolically active, rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques in HIV infected adults; a population with increased CVD risk.

Incomplete immune recovery in HIV infection: mechanisms, relevance for clinical care, and possible solutions

Treatment of HIV-infected patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) usually results in diminished viral replication, increasing CD4+ cell counts, a reversal of most immunological disturbances, and a reduction in risk of morbidity and mortality. However, approximately 20% of all HIV-infected patients do not achieve optimal immune reconstitution despite suppression of viral replication. These patients are referred to as immunological nonresponders (INRs). INRs present with severely altered immunological functions, including malfunction and diminished production of cells within lymphopoetic tissue, perturbed frequencies of immune regulators such as regulatory T cells and Th17 cells, and increased immune activation, immunosenescence, and apoptosis. Importantly, INRs have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality compared to HIV-infected patients with an optimal immune reconstitution. Additional treatment to HAART that may improve immune reconstitution has been investigated, but results thus far have proved disappointing. The reason for immunological nonresponse is incompletely understood. This paper summarizes the known and unknown factors regarding the incomplete immune reconstitution in HIV infection, including mechanisms, relevance for clinical care, and possible solutions.

Accelerated aging and human immunodeficiency virus infection: emerging challenges of growing older in the era of successful antiretroviral therapy

HIV-infected patients are living longer as a result of potent antiretroviral therapy. Immuno-inflammatory phenomena implicated in the normal aging process, including immune senescence, depreciation of the adaptive immune system, and heightened systemic inflammation are also pathophysiologic sequelae of HIV infection, suggesting HIV infection can potentiate the biological mechanisms of aging. Aging HIV-infected patients manifest many comorbidities at earlier ages, and sometimes with more aggressive phenotypes compared to seronegative counterparts. In this review, we describe relevant biologic changes shared by normal aging and HIV infection and explore the growing spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with the accelerated aging phenotype in HIV-infected individuals.

Considerations for Endpoint Selection When Designing HIV Clinical Trials

Selecting the primary endpoint is one of the most important decisions in designing clinical trials. Many HIV trials are powered for surrogate markers, often virologic suppression. Among 49 recently published Phase 3 or higher randomized HIV trials only 14% were powered for clinical outcomes such as the progression to AIDS, death, or serious non-AIDS diseases. We provide two examples where interventions modified the targeted surrogate markers but failed to provide clinical benefit. We review the use of surrogate and clinical endpoints, discuss the composition of clinical endpoints, and the need for endpoint verification. In HIV-infected individuals with CD4 cell counts above 200 cells/mm(3) serious non-AIDS conditions such as cardiovascular, renal, hepatic diseases and cancer contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality. In this population clinical endpoint trials should be powered for non-AIDS morbidity along with AIDS.

Inflammation predicts changes in high-density lipoprotein particles and apolipoprotein A1 following initiation of antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

The effects of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on usual lipid levels have been reported. The effects of initiating versus deferring ART on high-density and low-density lipoprotein particle (HDL-P and LDL-P, respectively) concentrations and apolipoprotein (Apo) levels are not well described.

METHODS

In a subgroup of participants not taking ART at study entry who were randomized in the Strategies for Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (SMART) trial to immediately initiate ART ('viral suppression group') or to defer it ('drug conservation group'), lipoprotein particle concentrations and ApoA1 and ApoB levels were measured at baseline and at 2 and 6 months following randomization.

RESULTS

Compared with drug conservation group (n = 126), HDL-P and ApoA1 levels increased among viral suppression participants (n = 128) after starting ART. At 6 months, viral suppression participants had 13% higher total HDL-P (P < 0.001) and 9% higher ApoA1 (P < 0.001). LDL-P, very low density lipoprotein particle, and ApoB did not differ significantly between the viral suppression and drug conservation groups. Among viral suppression participants, predictors of HDL-P and ApoA1 increases included baseline levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), but not HIV RNA level, CD4 cell count, or traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. The effect of starting ART on changes in HDL-P and ApoA1 was greater for those with higher versus lower baseline levels of IL-6 (P = 0.001 and 0.08, respectively, for interaction) or hsCRP (P = 0.01 and 0.04, respectively, for interaction).

CONCLUSION

HDL-P and ApoA1 increase following ART initiation, to a degree that depends on the degree of inflammation present at entry. These findings suggest that activation of inflammatory pathways contribute to HIV-associated changes in HDL.

Development of diagnostic criteria for serious non-AIDS events in HIV clinical trials

PURPOSE

Serious non-AIDS (SNA) diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in the HAART era. We describe development of standard criteria for 12 SNA events for Endpoint Review Committee (ERC) use in START, a multicenter international HIV clinical trial.

METHODS

SNA definitions were developed based upon the following: (1) criteria from a previous trial (SMART), (2) review of published literature, (3) an iterative consultation and review process with the ERC and other content experts, and (4) evaluation of draft SNA criteria using retrospectively collected reports in another trial (ESPRIT).

RESULTS

Final criteria are presented for acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease requiring drug treatment, coronary revascularization, decompensated liver disease, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease, non-AIDS cancer, peripheral arterial disease, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. Of 563 potential SNA events reported in ESPRIT and reviewed by an ERC, 72% met "confirmed" and 13% "probable" criteria. Twenty-eight percent of cases initially reviewed by the ERC required follow-up discussion (adjudication) before a final decision was reached.

CONCLUSION

HIV clinical trials that include SNA diseases as clinical outcomes should have standardized SNA definitions to optimize event reporting and validation and should have review by an experienced ERC with opportunities for adjudication.

Biomarkers and HIV-associated cardiovascular disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Our goal is to summarize recent literature on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the setting of HIV infection with an emphasis on those associated with clinical events.

RECENT FINDINGS

Epidemiological data have demonstrated that HIV infection is associated with increases in well established markers of inflammation and thrombosis, and levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and D-dimer predict CVD and mortality risk in HIV cohorts. Levels of interleukin-6, D-dimer and endothelial adhesion molecules increase when antiretroviral therapy is interrupted, suggesting that HIV replication may be driving CVD risk in this context. However, data on changes in many CVD biomarkers after starting antiretroviral therapy are inconsistent or lacking. Finally, high-density lipoprotein particles may be more informative than other lipoprotein measures for CVD risk specifically among individuals with HIV infection.

SUMMARY

Biomarkers of inflammation and thrombosis have the potential to improve CVD risk stratification beyond traditional and HIV-specific factors, and may prove useful for evaluating CVD prevention strategies for individuals with HIV infection.

Premature onset of cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected individuals: the drugs and the virus

Life expectancy in HIV-infected individuals has been greatly enhanced through immunologic restoration and virologic suppression resulting from antiretroviral therapy. Current clinical HIV care in Western countries focuses on treatment of drug toxicities and prevention of comorbidities. These non-AIDS HIV-related comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, occur even in individuals with virologic suppression and manifest at an earlier age than when normally presenting in the general population. While traditional risk factors are present in many HIV-infected individuals who develop cardiovascular disease, the additional roles of HIV-related chronic inflammation and immune activation as well as chronic HIV viremia may be significant. This review provides current evidence for the contributions of the virus, in terms of both chronic viremia and its contribution via chronic low-level inflammation, immune activation, premature immune senescence and dyslipidemia, to the pathogenesis of HIV-related cardiovascular disease, and balances this against the propensity of specific antiretroviral therapies to cause cardiovascular disease, in particular through altered cholesterol metabolism.

Recent key advances in human immunodeficiency virus medicine and implications for China

In this article we summarize several recent major developments in human immunodeficiency virus treatment, prevention, outcome, and social policy change. Updated international guidelines endorse more aggressive treatment strategies and safer antiretroviral drugs. New antiretroviral options are being tested. Important lessons were learned in the areas of human immunodeficiency virus vaccines and microbicide gels from clinical studies, and additional trials in prevention, especially pre-exposure prophylaxis, are nearing completion. Insight into the role of the virus in the pathogenesis of diseases traditionally thought to be unrelated to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has become a driving force for earlier and universal therapy. Lastly, we review important achievements of and future challenges facing China as she steps into her eighth year of the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program.

High-density lipoprotein particles and markers of inflammation and thrombotic activity in patients with untreated HIV infection

BACKGROUND

Untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with changes in blood lipids, inflammation, thrombotic activity, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

METHODS

We studied high-density lipoprotein particle (HDLp) concentrations and inflammatory (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP] and interleukin [IL] 6), endothelial activation (E-selectin and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1]), and thrombotic (fibrinogen and D-dimer) biomarkers in a group of 32 untreated HIV-infected and 29 uninfected persons. Differences in the levels of blood lipids and biomarkers by HIV status were examined before and after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, body mass index, and the presence of hepatitis C.

RESULTS

HIV-infected participants, compared with uninfected participants, had lower HDL cholesterol (HDLc) levels (-26%) and HDLp numbers (-21%), with reductions in large (-50%) and small (-20%) HDLp, specifically (P < or = .01 for all). A trend was present for higher total cholesterol (P = .15 and triglyceride levels (P = .11) among individuals with HIV infection. Levels of IL-6, sICAM-1, and D-dimer were 65%-70% higher in HIV-infected participants (P < or = .02 for all). Covariate adjustment did not diminish these associations. For HIV-infected participants, total and small HDLp (respectively) tended to correlate inversely with levels of IL-6 (P = .08 and P = .02), sICAM-1 (P < .01 for both) and D-dimer (P = .03 and p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with untreated HIV infection have lower HDLp (primarily large and small HDLp) and higher IL-6, sICAM-1, and D-dimer levels, and the relationship of these markers to HIV-mediated atherosclerotic risk requires further study.

Role of the CD4 count in HIV management

As a result of successful antiretroviral treatment over the last 20 years, HIV has become more of a chronic disease for practitioners to manage, requiring careful, but routine, clinical monitoring. Laboratory markers, such as the HIV-1 RNA viral load and CD4 cell count, are regularly used for patient management in addition to predicting disease progression and/or treatment outcomes. The HIV viral load is considered to be the gold standard for evaluating treatment success, although it is often limited by the cost. Furthermore, in certain cases, there is a mismatch between an undetectable viral load (<50 copies/ml) and the absence of immune reconstitution, which can be confusing to both the treatment provider and patient. In this review, the utility of the CD4 count as a predictor for HIV disease progression in patients not on therapy is evaluated, as well as a method for monitoring a patient’s response to therapy. Its use in predicting immune reconstitution in patients initiating antiretrovirals is also identified. We hope to aid the clinician by examining the most recent literature and discussing the added value of the CD4 count in the management of a person with HIV infection.