AIDS Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about AIDS, including details on testing, treatment, prevention, hiv, life expectancy.

Rapid progression of carotid lesions in HAART-treated HIV-1 patients.

Maggi P, Perilli F, Lillo A, Gargiulo M, Ferraro S, Grisorio B, Ferrara S, Carito V, Bellacosa C, Pastore G, Chirianni A, Regina G

Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari, Italy. p_maggi@yahoo.com <p_maggi@yahoo.com>

To obtain data on the evolution of carotid lesions, we evaluated 133 patients at their first antiretroviral regimen, followed for at least 2 years; 77 treated with protease inhibitors (PIs): Group A and 56 with non-nucleosidic reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): Group B. All patients were subjected to carotid ultrasonography. In Group A, among the previously normal patients 22.5% developed lesions, 40% remained normal, 37.5% shifted to other antiretroviral regimens. Among the 37 previously pathologic patients, 46% worsened, 19% were stable, in 8% the lesions had disappeared, 27% shifted. In Group B, among the previously normal patients, 12.7% developed lesions, 80.8% remained unaltered, 6.5% shifted. Among the previously pathologic patients, 12.5% worsened, lesions reversed in 25%, remained stable in 50% and 12.5% shifted to PI. At statistical analysis, in Group A both the percentage of patients developing new lesions and the percentage of patients who worsened was significantly higher. In conclusion, we evidenced a more rapid onset of lesions in patients treated with PIs with respect to patients treated with NNRTIs and towards a more rapid evolution of the previous lesions. The shift from PIs to NNRTI/3 NRTI seems related to a lower rate of evolution. Interestingly, a disappearance of lesions was detected in both groups.

Published 18 May 2007 in Atherosclerosis, 192(2): 407-12.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 AIDS Research Today. All Rights Reserved.