Hepatic Steatosis Affects the Plasma Lipidomes in Patients With HIV
Patients with HIV and significant hepatic steatosis have a unique plasma lipidome compared with patients with HIV and minimal to no hepatic steatosis, according to new data presented at AASLD 2020.
To conduct their study, the researchers assessed the plasma lipidomes of 109 adults with HIV who were taking antiretroviral therapy and had immunologic recovery and sustained plasma viral suppression. Participants had a mean body mass index of 33 kg/m2 and CD4 cell count of 849 cells/mm3.
Results of the analysis showed that participants with significant hepatic steatosis had a higher abundance of triglycerides and oxidized triglycerides, whereas participants with minimal to no hepatic steatosis had higher levels of choline‐containing lipids and plasma cardiolipin.
“Although enrichment of plasma triglyceride species has been previously described in relationship to [hepatic steatosis], there is a paucity of data linking plasma phosphocholines to [hepatic steatosis] in [people with HIV] and HIV‐negative persons,” the researchers concluded. “Further studies will include HIV‐negative groups to determine whether the described plasma lipidome changes are specific to [people with HIV].”
—Amanda Balbi
Reference:
Gabriel CL. HIV‐infected persons with hepatic steatosis have a unique plasma lipidome. Paper presented at: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases: The Liver Meeting 2020; November 13-16, 2020; Virtual.