Compared with the HIV-uninfected men in our sample, HIV-infected men were younger, with lower body mass index (BMI) and more often Black. HIV-infected men had lower FT (age-adjusted FT 88.7 ng/dL vs. 101.7 ng/dL in HIV-uninfected men; P = 0.0004); however, FT was not associated with CAC,

log carotid IMT, or the presence of carotid lesions. HIV status was not associated with CAC presence or log carotid IMT, but was associated with carotid lesion presence (adjusted odds ratio 1.69; 95% confidence interval 1.06, 2.71) in HIV-infected men compared with HIV-uninfected men. Compared with HIV-uninfected men, HIV-infected men had lower FT, as well as more prevalent carotid lesions. In both groups, FT was not associated with CAC presence, log carotid IMT, or carotid

lesion presence, suggesting that FT does not influence subclinical CVD in www.selleckchem.com/products/PLX-4032.html this population of men with and at risk Z-VAD-FMK clinical trial for HIV infection. Increased rates of myocardial infarction and accelerated cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression have been observed among HIV-infected individuals [1], particularly among those taking antiretroviral therapy [2, 3]. Identifying modifiable CVD risk factors among individuals with HIV infection is important to decrease CVD risk. Several population-based studies have shown that low serum testosterone (T) is associated with increased all-cause mortality [4] and CVD-related

death [5] in men. Low serum T may be a risk factor for CVD by several mechanisms, including increased visceral adiposity (leading to glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus), inflammation, and a more direct effect on the vasculature [6-8]. There is an increased prevalence of hypogonadism in HIV-infected men [9] and hypogonadism may persist despite effective antiretroviral therapy [10]. Although CVD in HIV-infected men may be a consequence of underlying viral mechanisms or antiretroviral therapy, it is crucial to investigate other clinically reversible factors such as low T that might result in an increased susceptibility to atherosclerotic disease. To our Mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease knowledge, this is the first investigation of the potential role of T in the pathogenesis of CVD in HIV-infected individuals. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between free testosterone (FT) and early stages of CVD and to explore nontraditional risk factors for CVD in an HIV-infected population, using an HIV-uninfected comparison group. We used data from a subpopulation of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS; see Appendix) to assess the relationship between FT and coronary artery calcium (CAC) presence, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and carotid lesion presence among men with and at risk from HIV infection.