Visceral fat distribution is related to ophthalmic artery resistance index in HIV-1-infected patients receiving.

Objectives: We evaluated whether perirenal fat diameter (PRFD), a parameter of central obesity, is related to ophthalmic artery resistance index (OARI), index of occlusive carotid artery disease. Our hypothesis was that PRFD could be an early predictor of atherosclerosis in HIV-1 infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Methods: 144 consecutive subjects were enrolled into four groups: HIV+ patients with central obesity (group A, n = 38), HIV+ patients without central obesity (group B, n = 50), HIV-1-negative patients with central obesity (group C, n = 30) and healthy subjects (group D, n = 30). Diagnosis of central obesity was based on PRFD/BMI ratio > 0.22 using 3.75 mHz convex transducer, according to our published data. OARI was measured using a 7.5 mHz linear probe scanning through closed eyelid. Demographic characteristics and metabolic variables were compared between groups by ANOVA. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent association between the OARI and PRFD adjusting for various risk factors. Results: The mean of OARI in subjects with central obesity was considerably higher than that in subjects without (0.73±0.04, group A; 0.69±0.03, group B; 0.74±0.04, group C; 0.68±0.04, group D) regardless of HIV status. We further found a positive correlation between OARI and PRFD (r = +0.52, p< 0.0001). Using the average OARI as the dependent variable, age (Odds Ratio 1.13, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.23) and PRFD (Odds Ratio 1.44, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.85) were independent factors associated to OARI. Conclusions: Our data indicate that ultrasonographic assessment of PRFD may have a potential to be a marker of increased endothelial damage with specific involvement of ocular vascular district. As a consequence, a periodic screening for visceral obesity should be considered mandatory in HIV-1-infected patients receiving HAART and it could identify patients at major risk to develop cardiovascular disease.