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Prediction of HIV-1 Coreceptor Usage Tropism by Sequence Analysis using a Genotypic Approach
Published on: December 1, 2011
C-reactive protein as a predictor of cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected individuals
Clare L V Westhorpe1, Hans G Schneider2, Mandy Dunne1
1Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Prahran, Vic. 3004, Australia.
Insights
C-reactive protein (CRP) may indicate cardiac event risk in HIV patients, but its predictive value is uncertain due to generalized inflammation. Further research is needed for early cardiovascular disease prediction in this population.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biomarkers
Background:
- HIV infection is associated with a two-fold higher risk of cardiac events compared to the general population.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a known cardiac event biomarker and is also elevated in HIV-infected individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the predictive value of CRP for cardiac events in individuals with HIV infection.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of stored plasma samples from HIV-infected patients.
- Case-controlled manner comparing patients with and without coronary events.
- High-sensitivity assay (hs-CRP) used for all measurements.
Main Results:
- Slightly elevated hs-CRP levels in cardiac cases (median 3.5) versus controls (median 2.6), not statistically significant (P=0.20).
- Binary analysis of CRP (≥5mgL⁻¹) also showed no statistical significance (OR: 1.32, 95% CI 0.48-3.63).
Conclusions:
- CRP elevation in HIV may suggest cardiac risk, but requires cautious interpretation due to generalized inflammation.
- CRP lacks predictive value for atherosclerosis in HIV-infected individuals.
- Further research is necessary for improved early prediction of cardiovascular disease in HIV.
Unlabelled:
Background In some studies HIV infection confers approximately two-fold higher risk of cardiac events compared with the general population. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-characterised biomarker of cardiac events in the general population and is also elevated in patients with HIV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of CRP for cardiac events in HIV-infected individuals.
Methods:
We retrospectively analysed CRP levels in stored plasma samples from HIV-infected patients who did or did not experience a coronary event in a case-controlled manner. All CRP measurements were performed using a high-sensitivity assay (hs-CRP).
Results:
Of the study participants with samples available, we found slightly elevated hs-CRP levels in the cardiac cases (median 3.5, IQR 1.6-14.4, n=23) compared with controls (median 2.6, IQR1.2-8.3, n=49) which were shown to not be statistically significant P=0.20. Analysis of CRP as a binary variable (≥5mgL(-1)) was also not statistically significant (OR: 1.32, 95% CI 0.48-3.63).
Conclusions:
CRP levels may indicate elevated risk of future cardiac events, however this must be interpreted with caution due to the generalised elevation of CRP during HIV infection. CRP has no predictive value for atherosclerosis, and further research is required to improve early prediction of cardiovascular disease in HIV infection.
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