Abstract
Background
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is thought to result in increased immune activation in people with HIV (PWH). While some data have linked asymptomatic CMV infection to cardiovascular disease among PWH, it remains unknown whether CMV is associated with increased or high-risk coronary plaque.
Methods
The Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE) enrolled PWH aged 40-75 years on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) with low-to-moderate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. Among a subset of US REPRIEVE participants, coronary plaque was assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography. Here, we assessed the relationship between CMV IgG titer and 1) levels of immune activation, 2) inflammatory biomarkers, and 3) coronary plaque phenotypes at study entry.
Results
Of 672 participants, mean age was 51 years, 83% were men, median ASCVD risk score was 4.5%, and 66% had current CD4 + T-cell count ≥500 cells/mm
3. Higher CMV IgG quartile group was associated with older age and lower current and nadir CD4+ T-cell counts. CMV IgG titer was associated with specific inflammatory biomarkers (sCD163, MCP-1, IL-6, hsCRP) in univariate analysis, but not after controlling for HIV-specific factors. In contrast, CMV IgG titer was not associated with coronary artery disease indices, including presence of plaque, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score >0, vulnerable plaque presence, or Leaman score >5.
Conclusions
No meaningful association was seen between CMV IgG titer and coronary artery disease indices among ART-treated PWH at study enrollment. Longitudinal assessments in REPRIEVE will determine the relationship of CMV IgG titer to plaque progression and cardiovascular events.
