PLOS ONE - Gupta 2017 - data_pub.csv

Background:
HIV-infected patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Impaired endothelial function is an early risk factor for CVD in the general
population. It is presumed that HIV infection is associated with impaired
endothelial function, but results have been inconsistent.

Objectives:
Our objectives were to determine the relationships between HIV infection,
virologic suppression with antiretroviral therapy (ART), in vivo measures of conduit
artery and microvascular endothelial function, and circulating biomarkers of
pathways associated with CVD.

Methods:
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of three prospectively enrolled groups
from a single center: 28 were HIV-infected and virologically-suppressed on a
regimen of FTC/TDF/EFV (HIV+ART+), 44 were HIV-infected but not on ART
(HIV+ART-), and 39 were HIV-uninfected healthy volunteers (HIV-) matched to the
HIV+ART- group for age, sex, smoking status, and height. None had diabetes,
uncontrolled hypertension, known CVD, or other pro-inflammatory condition. Flow
mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NTGMD), reactive
hyperemia velocity time integral (RHVTI), and FMD/RHVTI of the brachial artery
were measured, as well as circulating biomarkers of systemic inflammation,
metabolism, oxidative stress, and endothelial activation. This study was approved by the Indiana
University Institutional Review Board. All participants provided written,
informed consent.

Results:
No significant differences were found amongst the three groups in FMD (P=0.46),
NTGMD (P=0.42), RHVTI (P=0.17), and FMD/RHVTI (P=0.22) in unadjusted comparisons.
Adjusted ANOVA models which included brachial artery diameter, demographics,
and conventional CVD risk factors did not appreciably change these findings. In
pairwise comparisons, the HIV+ART- group had significantly higher soluble tumor
necrosis factor receptor II, soluble CD163, β-2 microglobulin, interferon-γ- induced
protein-10, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, and vascular cell adhesion
molecule-1 compared to the other two groups (all p<0.05). Correlates of
endothelial function differed between study groups.

Conclusion:
Although untreated HIV infection was associated with elevated levels of several
biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial activation, we were unable to
demonstrate differences in measures of conduit artery and microvascular endothelial
function in this study population.