Effect of antiretroviral treatment on myocardial work and arterial function of treatment-naive patients with HIV

Abstract Background/Aim HIV infection is related with cardiovascular adverse events. We investigated the effects of antiretroviral treatment in myocardial and vascular function of newly diagnosed patients with HIV. Patients and methods A total of 70 newly diagnosed HIV patients (41.2±8.7 years old, 87 % male) were enrolled. Patients were randomized to the newer integrase inhibitor Dolutegravir or to the older protease inhibitor Darunavir/Cobicistat. We measured at baseline and 12 months posttreatment: (a) Left Ventricular (LV) Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS), (b) LV Global Work Index (GWI), Global Constructive Work (GCW), Global Wasted Work (GWW), Global Work Efficiency (GWE), (c) Coronary Flow Reserve (CFR) of Left Anterior Descending Artery. At baseline, we compared the HIV patients with 35 healthy matched controls. Results At baseline patients with HIV had impaired myocardial function, endothelial function and endothelial glycocalyx compared with healthy controls. Twelve months after intervention HIV patients improved myocardial function, as assessed by GLS, GWI, GCW, GWW and GWE (p<0.05). Moreover, twelve months after intervention HIV patients improved endothelial function, as evaluated by an increase in CFR and a decrease in PBR5-25 (p<0.05). Response to therapy was similar between the two groups of treatment. Nevertheless, in HIV patients 12 months post treatment myocardial, endothelial function and endothelial glycocaylyx was impaired in comparison with healthy controls. Conclusions Treatment with antiretroviral therapy partially improves myocardial and arterial function 12 months post treatment.