The Effects of Statin Therapy on Coronary Flow Reserve and Inflammatory Markers in HIV-Positive Patients

Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation35 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of rosuvastatin in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected individuals lowers inflammation in blood vessels, improves blood circulation in the small arteries that provide nutrients to the heart muscle and improves neurocognitive function.

HIV is a chronic inflammatory disease. Patients with HIV are at a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) which may be related to this state of chronic inflammation. HIV infected individuals are at up to four times higher risk of suffering a heart attack (also know as acute coronary syndrome). The medicine rosuvastatin, commonly used to treat high cholesterol, has been shown to reduce inflammation in arteries in the general population and also in patients with high risk for heart problems. 72 subjects with HIV infection will be enrolled and divided into 2 groups of 36. Group 1: Treatment Group: Participants will receive a low dose of rosuvastatin, 10mg, for 6 months in addition to their current medical therapy. Group 2: Control Group: Participants will not receive rosuvastatin for 6 months and will continue with their current medical therapy. Participants in both groups will undergo blood tests, Myocardial Contrast Echocardiography (MCE) scan and a Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography PET/CT scan using a radioactive tracer called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET), monocyte and serum cytokine studies at baseline and 6 months. 10 subjects without HIV will also be enrolled to undergo monocyte and serum cytokine blood tests only, for comparison.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

Interventions

RosuvastatinDRUG

Comparison of rosuvastatin to no rosuvastatin

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 40 YearsMax age: 90 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 40-90 years of age * documented evidence of HIV infection * on standard antiretroviral therapy(ART) for \>1 years * viral load persistently below the limits of detection while on ART * current Cluster of Differentiation Antigen 4 (CD4) count \>350 cells/microlitre * baseline Framingham risk score of 10-20% Exclusion Criteria: * uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) \>6.5% or fasting glucose \>7.0 mmol/L) * uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>160 or diastolic blood pressure \>90) * known coronary artery disease (CAD) e.g. previous myocardial infarction, revascularization procedure, or history of angina * chronic renal failure (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \<60 ml/min) * total cholesterol \>5.8 mmol/L * Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol \>4.0 mmol/L * already receiving a statin for baseline dyslipidemia * pregnant or lactating * active untreated Hepatitis B or C * diagnosis or clinical evidence of a concomitant inﬂammatory/autoimmune disease * patients at baseline demonstrating regional perfusion abnormalities (confined to individual coronary territories) following stress MCE will be excluded and further management will be according to local best practice guidelines

Locations (2)

The Ottawa Hospital-General Campus

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Correlation between coronary flow reserve (CFR) and maximum target to background ratio (TBRmax).

At baseline, correlation between CFR by MCE and vascular inflammation (TBRmax) by FDG-PET/CT will be assessed. We anticipate good overall concurrence.

Time frame: At baseline

Secondary Outcomes

Change in CFR

Changes in CFR as measured by MCE will be evaluated over six months in HIV+ patients on ART and treated with rosuvastatin versus those not on a statin. Our study will be one of the first to examine the effects of rosuvastatin on measures of both inflammation and CFR in HIV+ patients.

Time frame: At 6 months

Change in TBRmax.

Changes in vascular inflammation (TBRmax) as measured by FDG-PET/CT will be evaluated over six months in HIV+ patients on ART and treated with rosuvastatin versus those not on a statin.

Time frame: At 6 months

Change in neurocognitive function

Changes in neurocognitve function as measured by a neuropsychological test battery (AMS-III Spatial Span, WAIS-R Digit Symbol, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Grooved Pegboard, Trail Making Tests A\&B, Letter Numbering Sequencing , Patient's Assessment of Own Functioning, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale) will be evaluated over six months .

Time frame: At 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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