Concentration of circulating oxidized LDL in HIV-infected patients treated with antiretroviral agents: relation to HIV-related lipodystrophy

Abstract

Background: Circulating oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) is associated with clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of ox-LDL in HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy with (HIV-LD) or without (HIV-nLD) HIV-related lipodystrophy.

Method: A total of 44 HIV-infected men were enrolled in the study. Half of them had HIV-LD. The control group included 12 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched HIV-uninfected men. Ox-LDL concentration and C-reactive protein level were determined. Insulin sensitivity was measured using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). LD was assessed by using a validated score calculated from clinical and biological data.

Results: HIV-infected patients had significantly higher ox-LDL concentrations when compared to HIV-negative controls (0.8 +/- 0.3 mg/dL vs. 0.60 +/- 0.1 mg/dL; p = .007). HIV-LD patients had significantly higher ox-LDL concentrations than HIV-nLD patients (0.91 +/- 0.38 and 0.69 +/- 0.16; p = .04). In HIV-LD patients, current therapy with protease inhibitors (PIs); duration of PI therapy; HOMA-IR; and time exposure to stavudine, efavirenz, ritonavir, saquinavir, and amprenavir were significantly higher than in HIV-nLD patients. In multivariate analysis, time exposures to stavudine and ox-LDL concentration were independently related to lipodystrophy.

Conclusion: The high concentration of ox-LDL was found in HIV-infected patients under antiretroviral therapy, especially in those with lipodystrophy.