Abacavir and Cardiovascular Disease — Pieces of the Puzzle?

Data from the DAD study indicate that current or recent use of abacavir is associated with increased risk for symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD), but the mechanism behind any such association has not been established (JW AIDS Clin Care Apr 14 2008). Two new studies explore whether increased inflammation and coagulation play a role.

Sinn and colleagues recruited 20 HIV-infected men at relatively high risk for CAD to switch the abacavir in their regimens to tenofovir. Four weeks later, both arterial stiffness (as measured by the augmentation index from the radial artery waveform) and total cholesterol levels had declined significantly, with the latter resulting in lower Framingham risk scores. No significant changes were seen in markers…