P3.06 VASCULAR FUNCTION IN HIV-1 (SUBTYPE C) POSITIVE BLACK SOUTH AFRICANS WITH AND WITHOUT ARV TREATMENT: A THREE YEAR PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

The objective was to study the changes in vascular function of HIV-1 (subtype C) infected black Africans over three years. In a longitudinal study (2005–2008) we compared the vascular function of 140 HIV+ (newly diagnosed) black Africans from the North-West province, South Africa. Seventy seven of the same HIV+ participants, received by choice no ARV treatment while 63 received treatment. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, heart rate (HR) (Omron HEM 757), and the pulse wave velocity (PWV) (Complior SP device) were determined. Sonar images were obtained with the MicroMaxx sonar device. Blood was analyzed with known methods to determine total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein (LDL-c), triglycerides (TG), glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP). Blood pressure increased significantly (dependent T-test) if the HIV+ (2005) were compared to the 2008 participants (received ARV’s). The PWV showed no significant changes in both groups. Although the weight stayed constant over three years, the waist circumference increased significantly in the ARV treated group. The HDL-c decreased significantly from 1.37 to 0.83mmol/L in the treatment naive group and the HDL-c showed no changes in the treatment group compared to the 2005 participants. The CRP was high in both groups. To conclude: the ARV treatment group showed lipodystrophy, an increase in blood pressure and a lower plaque score (6.5% vs 10.5%). It seems that ARV treatment stabilizes the lipids and results in a higher blood pressure, whereas in the treatment naive group a significant decrease in HDL – cholesterol over three years were encountered.