Effects of Therapy with Maraviroc on the Carotid Intima Media Thickness in HIV-1/HCV Co-infected Patients.

Aim: To evaluate, in human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis C virus co-infected patients, the impact of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) antagonist maraviroc-based antiretroviral therapy on the carotid intima media thickness and on atheromasic plaques.

Patients And Methods: In this pilot prospective study, 12 HIV-HCV co-infected patients underwent color-Doppler ultrasonography before and 48 weeks after switching to a dual therapy based on maraviroc plus protease inhibitors boosted with ritonavir. Changes of intima media thickness, inflammatory and endothelial adhesion biomarkers levels, Veterans Aging Cohort Study index and Framingham risk score were evaluated.

Cardiovascular risk factors in patients on long-term treatment with nevirapine- or efavirenz-based regimens.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk among patients treated for more than 5 years with regimens based on nevirapine or efavirenz.

Patients And Methods: A total of 276 patients were retrospectively evaluated, 156 of whom were treated with nevirapine and 120 with efavirenz, by examining traditional risk factors and detecting the presence of subclinical carotid lesions with colour-Doppler ultrasonography.

Results: When comparing the data at baseline and follow-up in the nevirapine group, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and triglycerides showed a significant decrease, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased.

Cardiovascular risk assessment in antiretroviral-naïve HIV patients.

Various studies have been conducted to evaluate the role of antiretroviral therapy in the onset of cardiovascular risk among HIV-1-infected patients, while fewer data are available regarding antiretroviral-naïve patients. Our objective was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk among naïve subjects examining traditional risk factors, immunovirologic parameters, assessing the Framingham risk score (FRS), and detecting the presence of subclinical carotid lesions by means of color Doppler ultrasonography. One hundred seventy-two antiretroviral-naïve patients underwent color Doppler ultrasonography.

B-mode ultrasound study of carotid plaques in HIV-positive patients to detect the presence of inflammatory endothelial lesions.

Several reports have indicated that patients with low CD4+ cell count could be at a higher risk for arterial lesions or cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recently, current use of abacavir has been associated with an excess risk of CVD. High sensitivity-C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were high for patients receiving the drug.