Increased Coronary Vessel Wall Thickness in HIV-Infected Young Adults

Abstract

This investigation provides evidence of subclinical coronary vascular disease among individuals infected with HIV in early life. Increased duration of ART, hyperlipidemia, and smoking contributed to proximal RCA thickening, independent of atherosclerotic plaque quantified by CT. These modifiable risk factors appear to influence early atherogenesis as measured by coronary wall thickness and may be important targets for CVD risk reduction.

Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in an Aging HIV Population: Where Are We Now?

“…Several studies have found coronary artery wall thickness [19], coronary artery plaque [20,21], cIMT, and cIMT progression changes [22][23][24] to be associated with HIV disease, suggesting an increased risk of CVD. Increased cIMT and cIMT progression and increased coronary artery plaque have unexpectedly been reported also among elite-controllers despite spontaneous virological and immunological control, supporting that other factors than ART and high viral replication are involved in the atherogenic process [25,26].…”

Early vascular aging in the HIV infected: Is arterial stiffness assessment the ideal tool?

“…10 Abd-Elmoniem et al reported increased IMT's in young adults infected with HIV. 11 But it remains controversial whether these individuals will develop accelerated atherosclerosis. 10 Large artery stiffness -assessed by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) -is a validated surrogate marker of arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis.…”

“…2,8 Early identification of subclinical atherosclerosis may therefore provide insight into the risk of developing overt CVD and may be central for both prevention and treatment of CVD development in the HIV infected population. 11 This issue of Virulence features an article by Eckard et al evaluating arterial stiffness in HIV-infected youth. 13 The paper is timely, since the majority of studies on atherosclerotic risk among people living with HIV, focus on the elderly.…”

Rationale and design of the Progression of AtheRosclerotic PlAque DetermIned by Computed TomoGraphic Angiography IMaging (PARADIGM) registry: A comprehensive exploration of plaque progression and its impact on clinical outcomes from a multicenter serial coronary computed tomographic angiography study

“…39,40 It has been also hypothesized that noninvasive imaging modalities such as CCTA further stratify intermediate risk patients to a very high risk group. 41,42 Moreover, in IVUS and MSCT comparative studies, 24,43,44 CCTA was been shown to accurately evaluate atherosclerotic plaque size, remodeling, eccentricity, and plaque composition.…”