A color Doppler ultrasound-based comparative study between stavudine and non-stavudine regimens in the onset of vascular lesions in HIV-1-positive patients.

摘要

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate the role of stavudine in the onset of premature vascular lesions using an ultrasound color Doppler evaluation of the carotid vessels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 266 patients were evaluated: 149 were treated with stavudine (group I) and 117 without stavudine (group II). RESULTS: Of the patients in group I, 41% exhibited vascular lesions vs. 26% in group II (p=0.0103). The two groups were further divided into subgroups Ia (stavudine and proteinase inhibitor, PI), Ib (stavudine and non-nucleotidic reverse transcriptase inhibitor, NNRTI), IIa (PI, without stavudine) and IIb (NNRTI without stavudine). A higher prevalence of lesions emerged in group Ia, while group IIa were at higher risk of developing vascular lesions than groups Ib and IIb. CONCLUSION: Although stavudine per se does not seem to determine damage of the epiaortic vessels, the association of a PI with stavudine is related to a significantly higher rate of lesions.