Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Women: Effects of Protease Inhibitor Use, Cardiac Risk Factors, and the Metabolic Syndrome

Context: Little is known regarding carotid intimal medial thickness (IMT) in HIV-infected women and the risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis in this population, including antiretroviral therapy and the metabolic syndrome. Objective: Our objective was to assess carotid IMT in relationship to HIV status and antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected women in comparison with healthy age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched control subjects. Setting and Subjects: The study took place at an academic medical center and included 97 HIV-infected women compared with 86 age- and BMI-matched healthy control subjects. Main Outcome Measures: We assessed carotid IMT, metabolic syndrome, and risk factors for increased IMT. Results: Carotid IMT was not increased in HIV-infected women [0.62 mm (0.57–0.68); median (IQR)] compared with non-HIV-infected women [0.61 mm (0.55–0.68)] matched for age and BMI (P = 0.07) but was increased significantly among HIV patients receiving a protease inhibitor (PI) [0.65 (0.59–0.71) mm] ...