Bioengineer.org | Study links long-term HIV therapy to cardiovascular changes

Bioengineer.org news story

A cross-sectional study published in AIDS Research and Therapy reports that long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is associated with increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, higher plaque incidence, and specific cardiac structural changes in HIV-infected patients. The research utilized multimodal ultrasound to evaluate these cardiovascular parameters alongside hemodynamic indicators and metabolic profiles. The study aimed to assess the effects of cART on carotid artery lesions, cardiac structure, and hemodynamics, while also exploring independent risk factors for cardiovascular comorbidities.

The study included 100 HIV-infected patients divided into two distinct groups. The cART-treated group consisted of 58 patients who had received standardized cART for at least three years. The untreated group comprised 42 patients who had not received antiretroviral therapy since their diagnosis. This design allowed for a direct comparison between those undergoing long-term treatment and those without such intervention. The researchers applied multimodal ultrasound to measure carotid intima-media thickness, plaque characteristics, vascular hemodynamic parameters, and cardiac structural and functional indicators.

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