Subclinic atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors in HIV-infected children: PERI study

To compare carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) of children and adolescents with and without HIV infection and to determine associations among independent socio-demographic, clinical or cardiovascular variables and cIMT in HIV-infected children and adolescents.

This is a matched case-control study comparing 83 HIV-infected and 83 healthy children and adolescents. Clinical and laboratorial parameters, cIMT and echocardiogram were measured.

The cIMT was higher in HIV-infected individuals (median 480 microm; interquartile range 463-518 microm) compared with controls (426 microm; range 415-453 microm, P<0.001). In addition, the HIV-infected group showed higher levels of high-sensitive C-reactive protein (medians 1.0 mg/l vs. 0.4 mg/l, P<0.001), glycated hemoglobin (6.1+/-0.9 vs. 5.7+/-0.8%, P=0.028) and triglycerides (medians 0.9 vs. 0.8 mmol/l, P=0.031). Finally, this group showed lower levels of total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. After multivariate analysis, increased cIMT was positively associated with stavudine use [odds ratio (OR): 18.9, P=0.005], left atrial/aorta index (OR: 15.6, P=0.019), suprailiac skinfold (OR: 7.9, P=0.019), tachypnea (OR: 5.9, P=0.031), CD8 lymphocyte count (OR: 5.7, P=0.033) and CD4 T-lymphocyte count (OR: 5.5, P=0.025). cIMT increment was negatively associated with total cholesterol (OR: 0.2, P=0.025) and with CD8 zenith (OR: 0.1, P=0.007).

In this sample of children and adolescents, having HIV infection was associated with increased cIMT and elevated prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. These findings suggest that this group should be included in cardiovascular prevention programs.