Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Women: Effects of Protease Inhibitor Use, Cardiac Risk Factors, and the Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

These data demonstrate increased carotid IMT in HIV-infected women receiving PI therapy, which may be due to associated metabolic abnormalities related to PI therapy or more direct effects of this medication class on the vasculature. Additional studies of the mechanisms by which PI uses results in subclinical atherosclerosis are needed.