Early detection of young patients is urgently needed

“Previous studies have shown that people with HIV have cardiovascular disease, but not at very early stages,” said senior author and director of the National Diabetes Institute’s Division of Biomedical and Metabolic Imaging. said Ahmed M. Gharib, M.D., a researcher and senior clinical researcher. Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in Bethesda, Maryland.

HIV and control groups were matched according to age, sex, and race. Participants underwent a detailed medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, including a detailed review of exposure to antiretroviral therapy and traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Each participant underwent laboratory tests including fasting lipid panel, T-cell count, and HIV viral load.

Results showed that coronary vessel wall thickness was increased in the HIV group compared to controls. Increased coronary vessel wall thickness was independently associated with increased left ventricular mass index and diastolic dysfunction.

Coronary artery wall thickness was also associated with duration of exposure to didanosine, one of the drugs used in combination with other drugs to treat HIV.

“The ability to detect coronary artery disease early in HIV-infected individuals and potentially prevent adverse myocardial effects is important,” said lead author Khaled Z. of MHS, a staff scientist in the NIDDK Division of Biomedical and Metabolic Imaging. said Dr. Abd-Elmoniem. . “This study shows the impact of HIV on the development of mild subclinical coronary artery disease and the impact of HIV on heart function.”

The researchers emphasized that early detection of asymptomatic cardiovascular disease in young people with HIV is an urgent need and may pave the way for more effective interventions and disease management.

For more information

Please visit Radiology: Cardiothoracic imaging Study “Association between coronary artery wall thickening and decreased diastolic function in asymptomatic low cardiovascular disease risk individuals living with HIV.”

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