GlycA, a novel inflammatory marker, is associated with subclinical coronary disease

Martin Tibuakuu*, Oluwaseun E. Fashanu, Di Zhao, James D. Otvos, Todd T. Brown, Sabina A. Haberlen, Eliseo Guallar, Matthew J. Budoff, Frank J. Palella, Jeremy J. Martinson, Akintunde O. Akinkuolie, Samia Mora, Wendy S. Post, Erin D. Michos

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

GlycA, a novel NMR biomarker of inflammation, has been associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population, but its association with CVD among HIV-infected individuals is unknown. We examined the associations between GlycA and subclinical coronary plaque among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men participating in Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).Design:Cross-sectional analysis of 935 men with plasma measurement of GlycA and noncontrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and/or coronary CT angiography.Methods:We used multivariable Poisson and linear regression to assess associations of GlycA with prevalent coronary atherosclerosis and plaque extent, respectively.Results:Mean±SD age was 54±7 years; 31% were black; 63% HIV-infected. GlycA levels were higher in HIV-infected compared with HIV-uninfected men (397±68 vs. 380±60μmol/l, P=0.0001) and higher for men with detectable viral load vs. undetectable (413±79 vs. 393±65μmol/l, P=0.004). After adjusting for HIV serostatus, demographic and CVD risk factors, every 1SD increment in GlycA level was associated with a higher prevalence of coronary artery calcium (CAC >0) [prevalence ratio 1.09 (95% CI 1.03-1.15)] and coronary stenosis at least 50% [1.20 (1.02-1.41)]. These associations were not significantly altered after adjusting for traditional inflammatory biomarkers or differ by HIV serostatus. Among men with plaque, GlycA was positively associated with the extent of CAC and total plaque.Conclusion:HIV infection was associated with higher GlycA levels. In both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals, GlycA was significantly associated with several measures of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, independent of other CVD risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers. These findings suggest the potential role of GlycA in CVD risk stratification among HIV patients.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)547-557
Number of pages11
JournalAIDS
Volume33
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2019

Funding

Funding sources: This study is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) grant R01 HL095129 to Dr W.S.P. The MACS is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), with additional supplemental funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the NHLBI as follows: UO1-AI-35042, UL1-RR025005, UM1-AI-35043, UO1-AI-35039, UO1-AI-35040, UO1-AI-35041. E.D.M. and D.Z. are supported by the Blumenthal Scholars Program in Preventive Cardiology. T.T.B. is supported in part by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (K24 AI120834). S.M. is supported by the NHLBI (R01HL134811 and K24 HL136852), and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK112940). Role of the Sponsor: This work was funded by grants from the NIH, but the funding source had no input in writing or design of manuscript.

Keywords

  • GlycA
  • HIV infection
  • cardiac computed tomography
  • coronary artery calcium
  • coronary atherosclerosis
  • inflammation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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