Ceramides: Linking HIV, Antiretroviral Therapy, and Vascular Inflammation

During a 7-year study, plasma ceramide levels correlated with HIV infection, use of certain antiretrovirals, and carotid artery plaque formation.

Accompanying the increased long-term survival of patients with HIV has been considerable morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease that appears to be exacerbated by antiretroviral therapy. The pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in HIV is poorly understood. Both HIV infection and cardiovascular mortality are associated with increased circulating levels of ceramides, bioactive lipids composed of fatty acids and sphingosines that serve as messengers in immune response regulation. To further study these associations, researchers measured ceramide plasma concentrations in 737 adult patients (about 70% HIV-positive) from the Women's Interagency HIV Study and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. The investigators assessed carotid ar…

Reviewing Author

George Sakoulas, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParatek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.; AbbVie; Shionogi

Speaker’s BureauAllergan/AbbVie; Paratek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Open Forum Infectious Diseases

George Sakoulas, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParatek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.; AbbVie; Shionogi

Speaker’s BureauAllergan/AbbVie; Paratek Pharmaceuticals; Nestle Corp.

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Open Forum Infectious Diseases

Ceramides: Linking HIV, Antiretroviral Therapy, and Vascular Inflammation

Topics

Reviewing Author