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Surrogate biomarkers are sometimes measured to assess the risk for coronary artery disease associated with use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Researchers in Spain have now conducted a biomarker substudy of 233 participants in the SPIRAL trial, in which 273 well-managed HIV-infected patients (viral load <50 copies/mL for ≥6 months) on ritonavir-boosted, protease inhibitor (PI)-based ART had been randomized to either continue their regimens or switch to raltegravir-based ART (JW AIDS Clin Care Jun 21 2010). Raltegravir's manufacturer partly funded SPIRAL.
Serum biomarkers for the 233 substudy patients (mean age, 43; 76% men) were measured at baseline and at 48 weeks. About 63% either had abnormal lipid levels or were taking lipid-modifying t…