![Insight Into HIV-associated Cardiovascular Disease]()
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem for people living with HIV. Antiretroviral drugs, viral load, immune-cell activation and inflammation all contribute to HIV-associated CVD. Biomarkers are needed for predicting CVD risk among these individuals. In a study published online on February 14 in Circulation, Qibin Qi, Ph.D., and Wei Zhao, M.S., found that levels of ceramides (a class of circulating blood lipids) correlate with the risk of developing carotid artery plaque (indicating greater likelihood of CVD events) during the course of HIV-infection and use of antiretroviral drugs. The findings suggest that targeting ceramides among people living with HIV might help to treat CVD or prevent its onset. Dr. Qi is an associate professor of epidemiology & population health Einstein. Wei Zhao is a medical student at Einstein.
Posted on: Friday, March 22, 2019