Cross-sectional study of endothelial function in HIV-infected patients in Brazil.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study evaluates vascular endothelial dysfunction of the peripheral circulation in Brazilian HIV-infected subjects on ART or naive to ART compared to a control group matched for age and body mass index (BMI). We performed a cross-sectional comparative study to measure postischemic peak flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and the response to glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in HIV-infected patients and healthy controls in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Endothelial vasomotor function was evaluated by assessing brachial artery FMD. Forty-four HIV-infected individuals (33 ARV treated and 11 ART naive) were compared to 25 healthy controls matched for age and BMI. FMD % was significantly lower for the ART-experienced patients compared to the ART-naive patients and was also significantly different from controls (ART experienced 8.2 +/- 6.0% vs. 19.3 +/- 4.8% vs. 23.3 +/- 6.1%), respectively (p < 0.0001). The cholesterol, triglyceride, and ALT levels were significantly higher in the ART-experienced group compared to the ART-naive and control subjects (p < 0.028); however, linear regression analysis revealed a statistically significant association of endothelial dysfunction as a dependent variable only with ARV treatment in HIV-infected subjects (p = 0.03). The association of endothelial dysfunction with ARV therapy in HIV-infected patients was independent of protease inhibitor-containing regimens or dyslipidemia. This dysfunction may contribute to the risk for HIV-associated atherosclerosis.

Endothelial function and cardiovascular diseases in HIV infected patient.

The HIV epidemic has dramatically changed the paradigm for the development of drug therapy in the last 15 years. The goal is now not only to provide an effective reduction of plasma viremia , but also to reconstitute the immune deficiency due to the progression of the disease. Significant problems with the metabolism of sugars and lipids lead to the appearance of well-documented disorders such as insulin resistance, abnormalities in lipid metabolism and lipodystrophy in those patients on prolonged therapy with antiretrovirals. The question of whether or not HAART-associated lipid disorders contribute to the premature development of coronary artery disease is of major importance for the HIV community. Endothelial injury is associated with disease-related biochemical abnormalities that are implicated in HIV pathogenesis. The exploration of endothelial function began in the early 1980s at the start of the epidemic. The study of endothelial function in HIV infection and its modifications by HAART is an exciting new field in clinical research; in this review the available information on cardiovascular diseases associated with HIV infection and its treatment are discussed.

Endothelial function and cardiovascular diseases in HIV infected patient

The HIV epidemic has dramatically changed the paradigm for the development of drug therapy in the last 15 years. The goal is now not only to provide an effective reduction of plasma viremia , but also to reconstitute the immune deficiency due to the progression of the disease. Significant problems with the metabolism of sugars and lipids lead to the appearance of well-documented disorders such as insulin resistance, abnormalities in lipid metabolism and lipodystrophy in those patients on prolonged therapy with antiretrovirals. The question of whether or not HAART-associated lipid disorders contribute to the premature development of coronary artery disease is of major importance for the HIV community. Endothelial injury is associated with disease-related biochemical abnormalities that are implicated in HIV pathogenesis. The exploration of endothelial function began in the early 1980s at the start of the epidemic. The study of endothelial function in HIV infection and its modifications by HAART is an exciting new field in clinical research; in this review the available information on cardiovascular diseases associated with HIV infection and its treatment are discussed.