Abstract / Description: 

Objectives
Cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis are common in HIV?infected patients and residual systemic inflammation is thought to contribute to both of these disorders. We performed a randomized placebo?controlled trial of omega?3?acid (O3A) ethyl esters in HIV?infected patients with hypertriglyceridaemia, hypothesizing that O3A would decrease serum levels of triglycerides, markers of systemic inflammation, and markers of bone turnover.

Methods
HIV?infected patients (n?=?48 recruited at three sites) with CD4 count >200?cells/?L, suppressed viral load, and triglycerides >200?mg/dL were randomized to placebo or 3.6?g/d of O3A. Fasting lipid profiles and markers of inflammation and bone turnover were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment.

Results
Baseline HIV status, lipid profile, bone metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors were similar between the groups. Inflammatory markers were similar between the treatment groups at baseline, except for interleukin (IL)?6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)??, which were higher in the O3A group. The concentration of triglycerides in patients receiving O3A decreased by a median (interquartile range (IQR)) of ?34 (?149, 9.5) mg/dL vs. a median increase of 46.5 (?51, 123) mg/dL in the placebo group (P?=?0.01). The median percentage change in IL?6 was greater in the O3A group compared with the placebo group [?39% (?63, 12%) vs. 29% (10, 177%), respectively; P?=?0.006]. Similar results were observed for TNF??, but not other inflammatory or bone turnover markers.

Conclusions
O3A ethyl esters decreased the concentrations of triglycerides, IL?6 and TNF?? in patients with well?controlled HIV infection and hypertriglyceridaemia. Larger studies are required to confirm these findings and investigate their clinical significance.

Collection: 
eCardio Hub Collection
Category: 
General CV
Date: 
2013
Author: 
TS Metkus J Timpone D Leaf M Bidwell Goetz WS Harris TT Brown