Statins blunt HAART-induced CD4 T-cell gains but have no long-term effect on virologic response to HAART

Abstract

Background: Statins are increasingly used in HIV-infected patients, but the effect of their immunomodulatory properties on antiretroviral-induced immune reconstitution is unknown. Methods: The authors compared 6-month and 1-year changes in CD4 T-cell count, plasma HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA), and serum lipids in 69 HIV-infected patients receiving statins and 127 controls matched by age, nadir CD4 T-cell count, and hepatitis C serostatus. All patients were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The authors used standard statistical tests for univariate comparisons and estimated average change in outcome measurements through repeated measures general linear models. Results: Patients receiving statins had significantly higher median CD4 T-cell counts (430 vs 225 cells/L, P