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. 2012 Jul 30:12:167.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-12-167.

Impaired distensibility of ascending aorta in patients with HIV infection

Alexandra Zormpala  1 , Nikolaos V Sipsas, Ioannis Moyssakis, Sarah P Georgiadou, Maria N Gamaletsou, Athanasios N Kontos, Panayiotis D Ziakas, Theodore Kordossis
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Impaired distensibility of ascending aorta in patients with HIV infection

Alexandra Zormpala et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Our aim was to investigate the aortic distensibility (AD) of the ascending aorta and carotid artery intima-media thickness (c-IMT) in HIV-infected patients compared to healthy controls.

Methods: One hundred and five HIV-infected patients (86 males [82%], mean age 41 ± 0.92 years), and 124 age and sex matched HIV-1 uninfected controls (104 males [84%], mean age 39.2 ± 1.03 years) were evaluated by high-resolution ultrasonography to determine AD and c-IMT. For all patients and controls clinical and laboratory factors associated with atherosclerosis were recorded.

Results: HIV- infected patients had reduced AD compared to controls: 2.2 ± 0.01 vs. 2.62 ± 0.01 10(-6) cm(2) dyn(-1), respectively (p < 0.001). No difference was found in c-IMT between the two groups. In multiadjusted analysis, HIV infection was independently associated with decreased distensibility (beta -0.45, p < 0.001). Analysis among HIV-infected patients showed that patients exposed to HAART had decreased AD compared to HAART-naïve patients [mean (SD): 2.18(0.02) vs. 2.28(0.03) 10(-6) cm(2) dyn(-1), p = 0.01]. In multiadjusted analysis, increasing age and exposure to HAART were independently associated with decreased AD.

Conclusion: HIV infection is independently associated with decreased distensibility of the ascending aorta, a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Increasing age and duration of exposure to HAART are factors further contributing to decreased AD.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of HAART therapy on the distensibility of ascending aorta, stratified for age < =40 years vs. >40 years old (fitted values).
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