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Increasing procoagulant activity of circulating microparticles in patients living with HIV
S Snopkova1, M Matyskova2, K Havlickova1
1Department of infectious diseases, Faculty hospital Brno and Faculty of medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Jihlavska 340/20, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
Objectives:
HIV-infected individuals are at higher risk of non-AIDS diseases associated with procoagulant status. Microparticles are elevated in disorders associated with thrombosis (e.g., cardiovascular diseases). We investigated the association between microparticle levels in untreated and treated HIV-infected subjects, and determined the association with immune status, viral replication, and duration of antiretroviral therapy.
Patients And Methods:
We included 144 HIV-infected subjects, including 123 on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 21 before treatment initiation. A control group of 40 HIV-negative healthy adults matched for age and sex was used for comparison of microparticle levels. Treated subjects were divided into five groups depending on the period of antiretroviral exposure. Statistically significant differences were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test and Chi2 test. The relation between microparticles and other parameters was assessed using Spearman's coefficient of correlation.
Results:
Microparticle levels were significantly higher in treated and untreated HIV-infected subjects than in non-HIV-infected controls (P<0.001). The microparticle level was similar between the groups on treatment (P=0.913). No association between the microparticle level and CD4+ count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, number of HIV-1 RNA copies, or duration of exposure to antiretroviral treatment was observed.
Conclusion:
Increased levels of microparticles may be due to processes independent of viral replication and CD4+ cell count, and microparticle release might persist even during viral suppression by antiretroviral treatment. Elevated microparticle levels might occur in response to other triggers.
Insights
Microparticle levels are elevated in individuals with HIV, regardless of treatment status. These elevated microparticle levels may persist during antiretroviral therapy and are not associated with immune status or viral load.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Individuals with HIV exhibit increased risk for non-AIDS related comorbidities, often linked to a procoagulant state.
- Elevated microparticle levels are observed in thrombotic disorders like cardiovascular diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microparticle levels in untreated and treated HIV-infected individuals.
- To determine the association of microparticle levels with immune status, viral replication, and antiretroviral therapy duration.
Main Methods:
- 144 HIV-infected subjects (21 untreated, 123 on ART) and 40 HIV-negative controls were analyzed.
- Microparticle levels were compared across groups, including subgroups based on ART duration.
- Statistical analyses included Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-squared tests, with Spearman correlation for parameter associations.
Main Results:
- Microparticle levels were significantly higher in both treated and untreated HIV-infected subjects compared to controls (P<0.001).
- No significant difference in microparticle levels was found between treatment groups (P=0.913).
- No association was observed between microparticle levels and CD4+ count, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, HIV-1 RNA copies, or ART duration.
Conclusions:
- Elevated microparticle levels in HIV may be independent of viral replication and CD4+ cell count.
- Microparticle release can persist during effective antiretroviral therapy, suggesting other contributing factors.
- Persistent microparticle elevation may result from triggers other than viral activity or immune suppression.
