Use of Rosuvastatin in HIV-Infected Subjects to Modulate Cardiovascular Risks

While the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in recent years has had an impressive impact on mortality and disease progression in HIV-infected patients, nevertheless, cardiovascular disease is a major concern impacting morbidity and mortality in this population.

This study will assess if a potent statin, rosuvastatin, could improve endothelial dysfunction, slow carotid intima media thickness (IMT) progression and bone loss, and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress in HIV-infected ART-treated subjects with good HIV virologic control. The investigators will also see if rosuvastatin will induce beneficial changes in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and lipid metabolism as well as improve bone turnover markers.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of HIV Disease
• Age > 18 years old
• Receiving a stable ARV regimen for at least the last 12 weeks prior to study entry and cumulative duration of ARV for 12 months
• Fasting LDL cholesterol < 130 mg/dl
• Fasting triglycerides < 300 mg/dL
• hsCRP > 2 mg/L or CD38+DR+/CD8+ > 19%
• If on Vit D replacement therapy, stable regimen for > 3 months prior to study entry

Exclusion criteria

• Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
• Any active or chronic inflammatory condition
• Cardiovascular disease
• Current or recent (within 24 weeks of study entry) therapy with omega-3 fatty acids, fibrates, ezetimibe or statins
• Uncontrolled hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Use of systemic cancer chemotherapy of immunomodulating agents
• Use of Anabolic agents, growth hormone, growth hormone releasing factor, or any other anabolic agents, except for stable replacement testosterone.
• Use of biphosphonates or other bone therapies
• Any of the following lab findings obtained within 14 days prior to the screening evaluation including the following:

• AST and/or ALT > 2.5 x ULN
• Hemoglobin < 9.0 g/dL
• CK > 3 X ULN
• Calculated creatinine clearance < 50 mL/min