Association between the acquired free protein S deficiency in HIV-infected patients with the lipid profile levels

Association of hepatitis C with markers of hemostasis in HIV-infected and uninfected women in the women's interagency HIV study (WIHS)

BACKGROUND

Coinfection with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common. HIV infection and treatment are associated with hypercoagulability; thrombosis in HCV is underinvestigated. Proposed markers of hemostasis in HIV include higher D-dimer, Factor VIII%, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen and lower total Protein S% (TPS) but have not been examined in HCV. We assessed the independent association of HCV with these 4 measures of hemostasis in a multicenter, prospective study of HIV: the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

METHODS

We randomly selected 450 HCV-infected (anti-HCV+ with detectable plasma HCV RNA) and 450 HCV-uninfected (anti-HCV-) women. HCV was the main exposure of interest in regression models.

RESULTS

Four hundred forty-three HCV+ and 425 HCV- women were included. HCV+ women had higher Factor VIII% (124.4% ± 3.9% vs. 101.8% ± 3.7%, P < 0.001) and lower TPS (75.7% ± 1.1% vs. 84.3% ± 1.1%, <0.001) than HCV- women, independent of HIV infection and viral load; there was little difference in PAI-1 or log10 D-dimer. After adjustment for confounders, these inferences remained. HIV infection was independently associated with higher Factor VIII% and log10 D-dimer and lower TPS.

CONCLUSIONS

HCV was independently associated with higher Factor VIII% and lower TPS consistent with hypercoagulability. Higher Factor VIII% and D-dimer and lower TPS were also strongly associated with HIV infection and levels of HIV viremia, independent of HCV infection. Further investigation is needed to determine if there is increased thrombotic risk from HCV. Studies examining hemostasis markers in HIV infection must also assess the contribution of HCV infection.

HIV is associated with thrombophilia and high D-dimer in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases associated with thrombosis appear more relevant and anticipated in HIV-infected patients after combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has reduced AIDS-related diseases and has improved survival. The association between viral replication and coagulation abnormalities in a cohort of HIV-infected children and adolescents was investigated here.

METHODS

Protein S, protein C anticoagulant and antithrombin activity, together with fibrinogen, D-dimer, high-sensitive C-reactive protein and homocysteine were assayed in a cross-sectional study among a cohort of HIV-infected children and adolescents. Results in patients with high viral load (HVL, HIV-RNA > 1000 copies/ml) were compared with those in patients with a lower replication (LVL), adjusting for other demographic, clinical and therapeutic covariates.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight patients (mean age 13.5 years, CD4 30%, 72% with LVL) were enrolled. A prevalence of protein S and protein C deficiency of 51 and 8% was, respectively, found. HVL group compared to LVL showed a significant reduction of protein S, protein C and antithrombin activities, and an increase of D-dimer levels. The independent association of HVL with decreased protein S activity (-11.2%, P = 0.04) and increased D-dimer levels (+0.13 microg/ml, P = 0.004) was confirmed in the multivariate model.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-infected children and adolescents present high prevalence of thrombophilic abnormalities. The multivariate model confirmed that high viral replication is independently associated with decrease of protein S and increase of D-dimer, suggesting the advantage of suppressive therapy on coagulation homeostasis and the opportunity of an active control of cardiovascular risk factors starting at a younger age.

Thrombophilia in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with osteonecrosis: Is there a real connection? The first case-control study

Several reports have described an increased incidence of osteonecrosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients (HIV+), but the cause has not been established. The association between thrombophilia and osteonecrosis in HIV+ was studied. A case-control study in HIV+, 19 cases and 38 controls, was designed. Magnetic resonance imaging was made in both groups to confirm or exclude hip osteonecrosis. The extensive tests of thrombophilia were measured, and the clinical data were recorded, nadir of CD4(+) cell count and well-known risk factors for osteonecrosis. Thrombophilia has been frequently found both in patients with and without osteonecrosis (thrombophilia, 68.4% vs 60.5%), but no specific thrombophilia tests were significantly associated with osteonecrosis. A low nadir of CD4(+) (<60 cells/microL) and corticoid use were significantly (P < .05) associated with osteonecrosis. In multivariate analysis, only nadir of CD4(+) <60 cells/microL remained a predictor of osteonecrosis (odds ratio = 7.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.80-29.82, P = .005). Thrombophilia might have a limited role in the development of osteonecrosis in HIV+. Nadir of CD4(+) <60 cells/microL and corticoid use were main factors.