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Updated: Jun 9, 2025
Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
Published on: April 9, 2014
No accelerated progression of subclinical atherosclerosis with integrase strand transfer inhibitors compared to
Javier García-Abellán1,2, José A García1,2, Sergio Padilla1,2
1Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Elche and Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Alicante, Spain.
Background:
The role of integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) in the cardiovascular risk of people with HIV is controversial.
Objectives:
To assess the association of INSTI to subclinical atherosclerosis progression measured with the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT).
Methods:
Prospective study in virologically suppressed people with HIV receiving INSTI- or NNRTI-based regimens. cIMT was measured at baseline, 48 and 96 weeks. cIMT progression was analysed both as a continuous and categorical variable, defined as cIMT increase ≥ 10% and/or new carotid plaque. Adjustments through Cox proportional hazard regression and linear mixed models, and propensity score matching were conducted.
Results:
190 participants were recruited and 173 completed the 96 week follow-up. 107 (56.3%) were receiving an INSTI-containing, 128 (67.4%) a NNRTI-containing and 45 (23.7%) a NNRTI plus an INSTI-containing regimen. The overall median (IQR) 2-year change of cIMT was 0.029 (-0.041 to 0.124) mm; 87 (45.8%) participants experienced a cIMT increase ≥ 10%, of whom 54 (28.4%) developed a new carotid plaque. Adjusted Cox regression showed no differences between INSTI and NNRTI groups in the categorical 2-year progression of cIMT, both including or excluding participants receiving INSTI + NNRTI. Similar results were observed for the continuous cIMT increase through adjusted linear mixed models. Propensity score matching showed no significant differences in the 2 year cIMT change between treatment groups [0.049 mm (-0.031-0.103) in the INSTI group versus 0.047 mm (-0.023-0.115) in the NNRTI group; P = 0.647]. cIMT progression was associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Conclusions:
INSTI-based regimens are not associated with increased progression of subclinical atherosclerosis when compared to NNRTI.
