Structural and Functional Arterial Parameters, Immunovirological Control and Vitamin D in HIV-Infected Patients

Abstract

Objective: HIV-infected patients still experience higher Cardiovascular (CV) mortality rates, even if an adequate viral suppression is achieved. In addition, vitamin D insufficiency, a common condition in HIV-infected patients, is increasingly associated with CV risk. We therefore aim to investigate relationships between immunological parameters, antiretroviral therapy, plasma vitamin D and arterial parameters, including aortic stiffness and wave reflections, in HIV-infected patients who achieved viral suppression but possibly remain at increased CV risk. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study including 178 middle-aged HIV-infected patients. HIV infection was controlled in a large number of participants, representative of a real-world setting. In addition to carotid Intima Media Thickness (IMT), central hemodynamic parameters involved aortic Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), carotid Augmentation index (AIx) and Pulse Pressure Amplification (PPA) measured noninvasively using applanation tonometry.Results: Aortic PWV was slightly but unsignificantly higher than the theoretical values obtained in general population according to age and blood pressure, and was independent of HIV-related parameters. In univariate and multivariate analyses, carotid AIx was positively correlated with current CD4 T-cell count and PPA was positively correlated with vitamin D, independently of other confounders. No HIV-related parameters or vitamin D entered the multivariate analysis of carotid IMT / plaque. Conclusion:In our chronically treated population, HIV infection was not associated with increased aortic stiffness but with a positive correlation between current CD4 T-cell count and degree of AIx, suggesting that patients with higher CD4 T-cell count may have higher wave reflections. The positive correlation between vitamin D and PPA suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be independently associated with altered central hemodynamics in well controlled HIV-infected patients. These findings should be confirmed in prospective studies.