Near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle oxygen saturation during exercise recovery and flow-mediated dilation are impaired in HIV-infected patients.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has been associated with the presence of endothelial dysfunction in HIV-infected patients, which may impair oxygen delivery to muscles during exercise and exercise recovery. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to assess muscle oxygen saturation (SmO) kinetics during exercise in different clinical populations in order to evaluate the balance between oxygen delivery and utilization by muscles. However, studies assessing SmO in HIV-infected patients have not been conducted. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate NIRS-derived SmO during rhythmic handgrip exercise and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in HIV-infected patients (HIV) compared to non-HIV-infected controls (N-HIV). Eighteen HIV and 17 N-HIV individuals underwent FMD assessment by ultrasound. The subjects then performed one set of rhythmic handgrip exercise until fatigue at 30% maximal isometric voluntary contraction. SmO was measured during entire exercise and 2-min exercise 3recovery. Muscle oxygen resaturation rate (upslope of the SmO over 10 s of recovery) was calculated. A significant lower FMD (3.5 ± 1.7 vs 5.9 ± 1.5%, P < 0.001) and slower oxygen resaturation rate (0.78 ± 0.4 vs 1.14 ± 0.4%·s, P = 0.020) in HIV as compared to N-HIV group were observed. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that HIV-infected patients had reduced FMD and impaired muscle oxygenation during exercise recovery compared to non-HIV individuals.