Lipoprotein (a) profile in HIV-1 infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is recognized as an independent factor of arteriosclerosis. The aim of this study was to appreciate the profile of Lipoprotein (a) recognized as an independent factor of arteriosclerosis in the monitoring of HIV-infected patients receiving Nevirapine (NVP) regimens, an antiretroviral known to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. The study population (136 subjects) comprise of 106 HIV-infected subjects, and 30 HIV-negative individuals. The 106 HIV-infected subjects were divided into groups as follows. HAART-untreated (27), HIV-infected subjects that did not receive antiretroviral treatment; HAART-6M (36), HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral treatment for six months; and HAART-12M (43), HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral treatment for twelve months. All recruited patients had normal blood lipids values (Total cholesterol < 5.2 mmol/L, Triglycerides < 2 g/L, HDLc > 0.9 mmol/L). The Lp(a) levels were significantly higher in the HIV-infected group compared to the control (p = 0.0036). Within the HIV-infected subjects, Lp(a) level was found to be higher in HAART-treated group compared to HAART naive group (p=0.004). Infected subjects on the antiretroviral treatment for12 months had higher Lp(a) levels than those treated for 6 months (p=0.034). This study shows that adequate management of metabolic abnormalities of HAART-treated HIV-infected patients must include periodic measurement of Lp(a) levels.