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Impaired distensibility of ascending aorta in patients with HIV infection

Alexandra Zormpala1, Nikolaos V Sipsas, Ioannis Moyssakis

  • 1Radiology Department, Laikon General Hospital of Athens, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece.

BMC Infectious Diseases
|August 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

HIV infection is linked to reduced aortic distensibility, a sign of early atherosclerosis. Longer highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) exposure and older age further decrease this vascular function.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
  • Subclinical atherosclerosis, such as reduced aortic distensibility (AD), may be an early indicator of this risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare aortic distensibility (AD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (c-IMT) in HIV-infected patients versus controls.
  • To identify factors associated with decreased AD in HIV-infected individuals.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution ultrasonography was used to measure AD and c-IMT in 105 HIV-infected patients and 124 controls.
  • Clinical and laboratory data related to atherosclerosis were collected for all participants.

Main Results:

  • HIV-infected patients exhibited significantly reduced AD compared to controls (p < 0.001).
  • No significant difference in c-IMT was observed between the groups.
  • In HIV-infected patients, longer exposure to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was associated with decreased AD (p = 0.01).
  • Multi-adjusted analysis confirmed HIV infection, increasing age, and HAART exposure as independent predictors of decreased AD.

Conclusions:

  • HIV infection is independently associated with reduced ascending aorta distensibility, indicating subclinical atherosclerosis.
  • Increasing age and duration of HAART exposure are significant contributing factors to decreased AD in HIV-infected individuals.
Abstract

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