biostudies-literatureBravo CANCATS NIH HHSNIA NIH HHSNIDA NIH HHSNIAID NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHS651-659https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10940210biostudies-literatureUnknown55(3)<h4>Background</h4>HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are associated with increased risk of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque and stroke. We examined associations of HIV- and HCV-related factors with echomorphologic features of carotid artery plaque.<h4>Methods</h4>This cross-sectional study included participants from the MACS (Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study)/WIHS (Women's Interagency HIV Study) Combined Cohort Study who underwent high-resolution B-mode carotid artery ultrasound. Plaques were characterized from 6 areas of the right carotid artery. Poisson regression controlling for demographic and cardiometabolic risk factors determined adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs for associations of HIV- and HCV-related factors with echomorphologic features.<h4>Results</h4>Of 2655 participants (65% women, median age 44 [interquartile range, 37-50] years), 1845 (70%) were living with HIV, 600 (23%) were living with HCV, and 425 (16%) had carotid plaque. There were 191 plaques identified in 129 (11%) women with HIV, 51 plaques in 32 (7%) women without HIV, 248 plaques in 171 (28%) men with HIV, and 139 plaques in 93 (29%) men without HIV. Adjusted analyses showed that people with HIV and current CD4⁺ count <200 cells/µL had a significantly higher prevalence of predominantly echolucent plaque (aPR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.08-3.21]) than those without HIV. HCV infection alone (aPR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.08-3.19]) and HIV-HCV coinfection (aPR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.10-2.78]) were each associated with higher prevalence of predominantly echogenic plaque. HIV-HCV coinfection was also associated with higher prevalence of smooth surface plaque (aPR, 2.75 [95% CI, 1.03-7.32]) compared with people without HIV and HCV.<h4>Conclusions</h4>HIV with poor immunologic control, as well as HCV infection, either alone or in the presence of HIV, were associated with different echomorphologic phenotypes of carotid artery plaque.StrokeAssociation of HIV and HCV Infection With Carotid Artery Plaque Echomorphology in the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study.PMC10940210P30 AI050410R01 HL148094R01 HL125053K01 HL137557UL1 TR001881U01 HL146205U01 HL146204U01 HL146208U01 HL146242L30 DA017071U01 HL146240KL2 TR001432UL1 TR001409U01 HL146202U01 HL146201U01 HL146245TL1 TR001431R01 HL144937R01 HL140976R01 HL126543P30 MH116867P30 AI027767P30 AI073961UL1 TR003098R01 HL095140P30 AI051519R01 HL095129UL1 TR000004U01 AI035039P30 AI050409R21 AG060860P30 MH133399U01 HL146333U01 HL146194U01 HL146193R01 HL083760Yan MRodriguez CJWitt MDPyslar NKingsley LATien PCPalella FJLi YMoon JYAnastos KHodis HNHanna DBPost WSGange SJDavy KLazar JMMack WJKassaye SGBravo CAKaplan RCfalseAssociation of HIV and HCV Infection With Carotid Artery Plaque Echomorphology in the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study.<h4>Background</h4>HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are associated with increased risk of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque and stroke. We examined associations of HIV- and HCV-related factors with echomorphologic features of carotid artery plaque.<h4>Methods</h4>This cross-sectional study included participants from the MACS (Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study)/WIHS (Women's Interagency HIV Study) Combined Cohort Study who underwent high-resolution B-mode carotid artery ultrasound. Plaques were characterized from 6 areas of the right carotid artery. Poisson regression controlling for demographic and cardiometabolic risk factors determined adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs for associations of HIV- and HCV-related factors with echomorphologic features.<h4>Results</h4>Of 2655 participants (65% women, median age 44 [interquartile range, 37-50] years), 1845 (70%) were living with HIV, 600 (23%) were living with HCV, and 425 (16%) had carotid plaque. There were 191 plaques identified in 129 (11%) women with HIV, 51 plaques in 32 (7%) women without HIV, 248 plaques in 171 (28%) men with HIV, and 139 plaques in 93 (29%) men without HIV. Adjusted analyses showed that people with HIV and current CD4⁺ count <200 cells/µL had a significantly higher prevalence of predominantly echolucent plaque (aPR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.08-3.21]) than those without HIV. HCV infection alone (aPR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.08-3.19]) and HIV-HCV coinfection (aPR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.10-2.78]) were each associated with higher prevalence of predominantly echogenic plaque. HIV-HCV coinfection was also associated with higher prevalence of smooth surface plaque (aPR, 2.75 [95% CI, 1.03-7.32]) compared with people without HIV and HCV.<h4>Conclusions</h4>HIV with poor immunologic control, as well as HCV infection, either alone or in the presence of HIV, were associated with different echomorphologic phenotypes of carotid artery plaque.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Mar2025-04-03T23:44:12.51Z2025-04-03T23:44:12.51ZS-EPMC109402103833399210.1161/strokeaha.123.04392210.1161/STROKEAHA.123.043922