INFLUENCE OF HIV INFECTION AND ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY ON AORTIC STIFFNESS: A META-ANALYSIS.

INTRODUCTION: A growing body of evidence indicates that risk of CV events is higher in HIV-infected patients (HIV?) when compared to HIV-uninfected persons (HIV-). This enhanced risk may in part be mediated through preclinical CV damage. Large artery stiffness, a well-documented marker of arterial damage and predictor of adverse CV prognosis, is usually assessed by measuring aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). Several studies examined arterial stiffness in HIV? with inconsistent results. In a previous meta-analysis, showing increased arterial stiffness in HIV? than in HIV- subjects, studies assessing aortic and peripheral PWV were pooled together. This may be misleading, because only the form…