People with HIV Have High Prevalence of Coronary Plaque Associated with Inflammation, Immune Activation

Adapted from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases email

People with HIV have significantly higher rates of cardiovascular disease than people without HIV. However, little is known regarding the prevalence and extent of coronary artery disease and associated biological factors in people with well-controlled HIV disease whose risk for cardiovascular disease is moderate or low based on traditional risk factors.

Now, a substudy of the ongoing NIH-funded REPRIEVE trial has found that about half of the participants had coronary plaque—cholesterol-containing deposits that, together with inflammation, can cause coronary artery disease. Most plaque was very limited, however, and investigators saw a concerning obstruction in less than 3% of participants. The researchers also found that the prevalence of coronary plaque was associated with higher levels of certain markers of immune function that may indicate more inflammation. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Read moreExit Disclaimer.