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The association of CD4+ T-cell counts and cardiovascular risk in treated HIV disease: nadir CD4 <350 associated with worse endothelial CVD function
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AIDS: 1 June 2012
Ho, Jennifer E.a; Scherzer, Rebeccab; Hecht, Frederick M.c; Maka, Kristinalisad; Selby, Vand; Martin, Jeffrey N.c,e; Ganz, Peterd; Deeks, Steven G.c; Hsue, Priscilla Y.daDivision of Cardiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MassachusettsbVeterans Administration Medical CentercPositive Health ProgramdDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, San Francisco General HospitaleDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
"nadir CD4+ T-cell count was the only clinical variable that was significantly associated with FMD.....[in speaking with study authors all study participants had undetectable VL....."the study results represent the median/mean of the entire group, but there is lots of variability & many people are essentially normal, despite having long-term HIV and a low CD4+ T cell nadir. Cardiologists used to argue that people did well with one risk factor; it is only when multiple factors are present do problems persist"].
......In conclusion, a nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was associated with worse endothelial function in HIV-infected men on stable HAART. The association of nadir CD4+ T-cell count and vascular function was greater than that of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Although causal inferences cannot be drawn from this cross-sectional study, our study provides compelling evidence that earlier initiation of HAART at higher nadir CD4+ T-cell counts may have a favorable impact on cardiovascular risk.By contrast, proximal CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was not associated with FMD (P > 0.05)......
......We previously demonstrated that lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with increased arterial stiffness in a cohort of long-term HAART-treated men [10]. We now extend our work in this same cohort by measuring endothelial function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Whereas arterial stiffness reflects structural and functional changes in the vascular tree, brachial artery FMD assesses intrinsic nitric oxide bioavailability and vasodilation [11]. Thus, although both vascular measures predict cardiovascular risk, the information they provide is considered complementary.............In this cohort of long-term effectively treated HIV-infected men, a low nadir CD4+ T-cell count was the strongest clinical predictor of endothelial dysfunction as assessed by brachial artery FMD. Specifically, a nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was associated with a 1.2% decrease in FMD. When compared with previous studies in noninfected individuals, this reduction in FMD represents a greater impairment than that is observed in the presence of diabetes, smoking, or prevalent cardiovascular disease [20]. These findings suggest that delaying the initiation of antiretroviral therapy until late in the disease process (as defined by nadir CD4+ T-cell counts) may be associated with adverse cardiovascular consequences.......One study demonstrated significant improvement in endothelial function in antiretroviral-naïve individuals within 4 weeks of HAART initiation [27]. Our study extends these findings to a cohort of effectively treated adults on stable HAART and suggests that the degree of immunological compromise prior to initiation of HAART is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Our results also suggest that immunological recovery as assessed by proximal CD4+ T cell does not abrogate the cardiovascular risk linked to low nadir CD4+ T-cell counts.......The nadir CD4+ T-cell count predicts subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and vascular stiffness in our investigations [5,10], and a low CD4+ T-cell count on HAART has been associated with cardiovascular risk [28-30]. The association of low CD4+ T-cell count with cardiovascular disease is not well understood and may be due to chronic inflammation [31] or direct viral effects [32]. Inflammatory markers have also been associated with subclinical atherosclerosis [33], mortality, and cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected individuals"
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CROI: Sub-100 Latest CD4 Count Tied to Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease in D:A:D.....http://www.natap.org/2012/CROI/croi_76.htm
Lower CD4+ Counts and Detectable HIV Viral Load are Associated With Elevated Levels of ADMA in HIV+ Patients: Our findings suggest that HIV infection impairs endothelial function and predisposes to atherosclerosis via an increase in ADMA....http://www.natap.org/2012/CROI/croi_124.htm
T cell activation predicts carotid artery stiffness among HIV-infected women.....http://www.natap.org/2011/HIV/062711_01.htm
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Abstract
Objective: HIV-infected individuals are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Whether earlier initiation of HIV therapy at higher CD4+ cell counts has any effect on cardiovascular risk as assessed by endothelial function is unknown.
Design: Cross-sectional study of 74 antiretroviral-treated men with undetectable plasma HIV RNA levels.
Methods: Participants underwent noninvasive assessment of endothelial function using brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). The association of nadir and current CD4+ T-cell count with FMD was assessed using multivariable linear regression.
Results: The median age was 47 years [interquartile range (IQR) 42-55], median current CD4+ T-cell count was 659 cells/μl (IQR 542-845), and nadir CD4 cell count was 314 cells/μl (IQR 150-490). Twenty-eight percent had hypertension, and 32% hyperlipidemia. Nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was associated with lower FMD in age-adjusted and race-adjusted analyses and remained an independent predictor of FMD after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, smoking, hyperlipidemia) and HIV-related characteristics (HIV duration, HAART duration). After multivariable adjustment, individuals with nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl had a 1.22% lower FMD compared with those with higher T-cell counts [95% confidence interval (CI) -2.20 to -0.19, P = 0.02]. Proximal CD4+ T-cell count showed little association with FMD.
Conclusion: Among treated HIV-infected individuals, nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl is independently associated with lower FMD, suggesting that delayed therapy results in sustained harm to endothelial function. Our data support future prospective studies evaluating cardiovascular effects of HAART initiation at higher CD4+ cell counts.
Introduction
Since the advent of HAART in 1996, HIV-related mortality has decreased dramatically [1]. In fact, the risk of non-AIDS related mortality may now exceed the risk of AIDS-related mortality in individuals with CD4 cell counts more than 200 cells/μl [2]. Of particular concern are increased rates of early atherosclerosis, coronary events, and mortality compared with noninfected controls [3-6]. The cause of these abnormalities in HIV infection is not well established. Although long-term exposure to protease inhibitors and abacavir use are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in some studies [3,7,8], randomized studies indicate that HAART is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes when compared with intermittent therapy [9]. Although treated disease is associated with less short-term risk of cardiovascular complications than untreated disease, it remains unclear if a delay in initiating HAART until later in the disease process is associated with residual cardiovascular risk even after long-term suppression of viral replication has been achieved.
We previously demonstrated that lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with increased arterial stiffness in a cohort of long-term HAART-treated men [10]. We now extend our work in this same cohort by measuring endothelial function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Whereas arterial stiffness reflects structural and functional changes in the vascular tree, brachial artery FMD assesses intrinsic nitric oxide bioavailability and vasodilation [11]. Thus, although both vascular measures predict cardiovascular risk, the information they provide is considered complementary.
Results
We enrolled 74 HIV-infected men on HAART with undetectable plasma HIV RNA and without known cardiovascular disease. The median age was 47 years (interquartile range 42-55). Traditional cardiovascular risk factors were common: 28% had hypertension, 32% hyperlipidemia, and 14% were current smokers. The median duration of HIV infection was 7 (5-15) years, and current and nadir CD4+ T-cell counts were 659 (542-845) and 314 cells/μl (150-490), respectively. Compared to participants with nadir CD4+ T-cell counts of at least 350 cells/μl, those with lower nadir CD4+ T-cell counts were older, had a worse cardiovascular risk profile, with longer HIV and HAART duration (Table 1).
CD4+ T-cell count and endothelial function
Nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was associated with lower FMD in age-adjusted and race-adjusted analyses (P = 0.014). After accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and HIV-related characteristics, nadir CD4+ T-cell count remained independently associated with FMD (Table 2). Specifically, individuals with a nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl had a 1.22% lower FMD [95% confidence interval (CI) -2.20 to -0.19, P = 0.02] compared with those with higher CD4+ T-cell counts. In a stepwise model considering traditional cardiovascular risk factors and HIV-related characteristics, nadir CD4+ T-cell count was the only clinical variable that was significantly associated with FMD. Nadir CD4 cell count showed similar associations with FMD when analyzed as a continuous variable, although the association did not reach statistical significance (+0.21% per doubling of nadir CD4, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.44, P = 0.08). By contrast, proximal CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was not associated with FMD (P > 0.05).s
In secondary analyses accounting for ever-smoking and total number of pack-years, results were not materially different. Further analyses adjusted for angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, ß-blocker, and statin use, all of which can influence FMD. This also did not materially change primary results.
Role of inflammation and asymmetric dimethylarginine
In secondary analyses, we examined the effect of potential mediators on the association of nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl and lower FMD. The association remained significant (P < 0.05) after adjusting for CRP as a marker of inflammation, ADMA, and L-arginine/ADMA levels.
Discussion
In this cohort of long-term effectively treated HIV-infected men, a low nadir CD4+ T-cell count was the strongest clinical predictor of endothelial dysfunction as assessed by brachial artery FMD. Specifically, a nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was associated with a 1.2% decrease in FMD. When compared with previous studies in noninfected individuals, this reduction in FMD represents a greater impairment than that is observed in the presence of diabetes, smoking, or prevalent cardiovascular disease [20]. These findings suggest that delaying the initiation of antiretroviral therapy until late in the disease process (as defined by nadir CD4+ T-cell counts) may be associated with adverse cardiovascular consequences. Although most guidelines now recommend starting therapy before this threshold is reached, a substantial proportion of individuals enter care with more advanced disease, and many if not most treated individuals have a low nadir CD4+ T-cell count.
Endothelial dysfunction plays a central role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis and predicts future cardiovascular events in non-HIV infected patients [21,22]. HIV-infected patients have impaired endothelial function when compared with noninfected controls [23]. The mechanism of endothelial dysfunction in HIV disease is unclear. Previous studies have shown worse endothelial dysfunction with higher viral load [23,24], and others have demonstrated improved endothelial function with HAART treatment [25,26]. One study demonstrated significant improvement in endothelial function in antiretroviral-naïve individuals within 4 weeks of HAART initiation [27]. Our study extends these findings to a cohort of effectively treated adults on stable HAART and suggests that the degree of immunological compromise prior to initiation of HAART is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Our results also suggest that immunological recovery as assessed by proximal CD4+ T cell does not abrogate the cardiovascular risk linked to low nadir CD4+ T-cell counts.
The role of HIV disease in the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis is supported by the consistent observation that both CD4+ T-cell count and viral load influence this disease. The nadir CD4+ T-cell count predicts subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and vascular stiffness in our investigations [5,10], and a low CD4+ T-cell count on HAART has been associated with cardiovascular risk [28-30]. The association of low CD4+ T-cell count with cardiovascular disease is not well understood and may be due to chronic inflammation [31] or direct viral effects [32]. Inflammatory markers have also been associated with subclinical atherosclerosis [33], mortality, and cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected individuals [34]. In secondary analyses, the association of low nadir CD4+ T-cell count and endothelial dysfunction was not mediated by inflammation as measured by CRP in our study.
Several limitations deserve mention. Potential confounding factors are a challenge in our observational study design, and only a randomized controlled clinical trial of early vs. late initiation of HAART can address the issue definitively. In the absence of such a study, observational cohorts provide the best available evidence to address the question. Although we adjusted for differences in identifiable cardiovascular risk and HIV associated factors, unmeasured factors remain a possible explanation for the observed greater endothelial dysfunction in participants with lower nadir CD4+ cell counts. Therefore, our results must be interpreted with caution, as the cross-sectional nature of the study precludes any causal inferences. Clearly, prospective longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the effect of early HAART initiation on cardiovascular outcomes. Our study is of modest size, which limits complex analyses examining mediators of the observed association of nadir CD4+ T-cell count and vascular function. It is also unclear whether the association of endothelial dysfunction and nadir CD4+ T-cell count extends beyond a threshold of 500 cells/μl, as few participants met these criteria. Despite these limitations, the strengths of the study were a contemporary sample of treated HIV-infected individuals with HAART initiation both early and late in the course of HIV infection, and rigorous assessment of endothelial function.
In conclusion, a nadir CD4+ T-cell count less than 350 cells/μl was associated with worse endothelial function in HIV-infected men on stable HAART. The association of nadir CD4+ T-cell count and vascular function was greater than that of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Although causal inferences cannot be drawn from this cross-sectional study, our study provides compelling evidence that earlier initiation of HAART at higher nadir CD4+ T-cell counts may have a favorable impact on cardiovascular risk. Future prospective studies examining early HAART initiation with respect to cardiovascular outcomes are needed.
Methods
Study design and participants
We conducted a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected men who were on stable HAART for more than 1 year with undetectable plasma HIV RNA levels [10]. Study participants were recruited from two ongoing prospective cohort studies at San Francisco General Hospital: the Study of the Consequences of the Protease Inhibitor Era (SCOPE) cohort and the Options Project [12,13]. SCOPE enrolls participants who entered care with chronic HIV disease. The Options Project enrolls participants with early acute HIV infection, and participants are offered an 'early treatment' option (initiation within 6 months of the estimated date of HIV infection). We excluded participants with cardiovascular disease, exposure to immunomodulatory drug therapy, or any changes in statin, antihypertensive, or diabetic regimen within 4 months. The University of California, San Francisco Committee on Human Research approved the study. All participants provided written informed consent.
Data collection
Participants underwent a detailed interview and structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, HIV disease history, comorbid conditions, health-related behaviors, and medication exposure. Laboratory evaluation included serum creatinine, CD4+ T-cell count, HIV RNA level, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), and plasma markers of vascular function (asymmetric dimethylarginine, ADMA; arginine; and N-tyrosine) (details in Supplemental Digital Content, http://links.lww.com/QAD/A211).
Assessment of endothelial function
In brief, high-resolution ultrasound of the right brachial artery was performed using a 10 MHz linear array probe and the GE Vivid7 Imaging System (GE, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA) according to established guidelines (details in Supplemental Digital Content, http://links.lww.com/QAD/A211) [14]. A blood pressure cuff was inflated to suprasystolic pressures on the forearm for 5 min, and the change in brachial artery diameter was measured during reactive hyperemia 1 min following cuff deflation (FMD) [15]. Nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) was measured 3 min after administration of 0.4 mg sublingual nitroglycerin. Repeated measurements of 10 scans in a blinded manner showed a correlation coefficient of 0.998. Ten patients underwent repeat scans within 14 days of enrollment, with a difference in FMD of 0.005% (-0.06 to 0.04%, P = 0.99).
Statistical analysis
Nadir CD4+ T-cell count was stratified a priori by groups below vs. at least 350 cells/μl, according to most recent treatment guidelines for HAART initiation [16]. Associations of nadir and current CD4+ T-cell count with FMD were assessed using linear regression with robust standard errors to account for nonnormally distributed residuals [17]. CD4+ T-cell counts were also analyzed continuously (log-transformed). Analyses were first adjusted for demographics (age and race/ethnicity) and study cohort. Bayesian model averaging was used to select candidate covariates; predictors with posterior probabilities of more than 35% were retained in the model [18]. Covariates considered included BMI, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, hyperlipidemia, HIV, HAART, and protease inhibitor duration. Finally, we constructed a model forcing age, race, cardiovascular risk factors, HIV, and HAART duration, as these covariates clinically were suspected to be potential confounders. Additional analyses evaluated CRP, ADMA, N-tyrosine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate [19] as potential mediators of the association of CD4+ cell count and endothelial function. Bayesian model averaging was performed using the BMA package for the R statistical computing language (R Development Core Team, Vienna, Austria). Other analyses were conducted using SAS, version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina, USA).
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