Statins in HIV-Infected Patients: Effects Beyond Cardiovascular Disease?

Charles B. Hicks, MD reviewing Erlandson KM. AIDS 2015 Jan 14.

Data from a small randomized trial suggest that rosuvastatin may improve bone mineral density in HIV-infected patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy.

The use of statins is associated with a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease, related at least in part to their effects on inflammation and immune activation. Studies involving older adults without HIV infection have suggested favorable effects on bone-mineral density (BMD) and body composition. In a recent placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted in Cleveland (SATURN-HIV), researchers investigated whether these effects might extend to HIV-infected individuals.

A total of 147 HIV-infected adults (mean age, 47) on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) were randomized to receive rosuvastatin or placebo. In a planned 48-week interim analysis, rosuvastatin-group participants showed modest but significant relative gains in BMD in the trochanter (mean, +0.9% vs. −0.7%) and hip (mean, +0.6% vs. −0.6%); lumbar spine BMD was similar between the two arms. The improvement in BMD was associated with changes in soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor over the study period. Changes in fat mass and lean body mass were slight and similar between groups.

Citation(s):

Erlandson KM.Effects of randomized rosuvastatin compared with placebo on bone and body composition among HIV-infected adults. AIDS 2015 Jan 14; 29:175.