Impaired Lipoprotein Processing in HIV Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy: Aberrant HDL Lipids, Stability, and Function

Objective HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (HIV/ART) exhibit a unique atherogenic dyslipidemic profile with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) and low plasma concentrations of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). In the Heart Positive Study of HIV/ART patients, a hypolipidemic therapy of fenofibrate, niacin, diet, and exercise reduced HTG and plasma non-HDL-C concentrations and raised plasma HDL-C and adiponectin concentrations. We tested the hypothesis that HIV/ART HDL have abnormal structures and properties and are dysfunctional.