Systemic immune activation and inflammation are believed to play a significant role in the development and clinical course of myocardial infarction (MI). Among women with HIV (WHIV), heightened systemic immune activation and inflammation persist, even when HIV infection is well-treated with contemporary antiretroviral therapeutic regimens. Moreover, WHIV in high-resource regions face a three-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction as compared with matched non-HIV-infected women. The goals of this study are to better understand ways in which HIV infection-incited systemic immune activation and inflammation augment MI risk among women.
The goals of this study are to better understand ways in which HIV infection-incited systemic immune activation and inflammation augment MI risk among women. To this end, WHIV and non-HIV-infected women will undergo structural and functional cardiovascular imaging studies (Cardiac PET, 99mTc-tilmanocept SPECT/CT, Contrast Enhanced Coronary and Aortic Computed Tomography Angiography) as well as vascular, metabolic/hormonal, and immune phenotyping. Measures of immune activation, arterial inflammation, and cardiovascular pathology will be compared between groups and interrelationships between these parameters will be assessed among WHIV.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
62
A scan examining blood flow to the heart
A scan to look at inflammation in the arteries
A scan of the heart and surrounding blood vessels
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Coronary flow reserve on Cardiac PET
Time frame: Baseline
Arterial inflammation on 99mTc-tilmanocept SPECT/CT
Time frame: Baseline
Atherosclerotic plaque on Contrast Enhanced Coronary and Aortic Computed Tomography Angiography
Time frame: Baseline
Fractional Flow Reserve
Time frame: Baseline
Markers of inflammation/immune activation
Time frame: Baseline
Markers of endothelial dysfunction
Time frame: Baseline
Markers of mitochondrial disease/dysfunction
Time frame: Baseline
Markers of myocardial stretch/injury
Time frame: Baseline
Hormonal/metabolic parameters
Time frame: Baseline
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.