Homocysteine Levels are Associated with HIV Disease Progression in HIV+ Adults in Miami

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship of homocysteine levels to alcohol AUDIT score and HIV disease progression in HIV+ adults.MethodsAfter consenting 235 participants, blood was drawn for homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as >;12μM/L. CD4 count and viral load were obtained from medical records. Questionnaires on demographics, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were completed.ResultsMean age was 44.9±8.1 years, mean CD4 count was 499.1±341.3 cells/μL and 66.0% were male. The prevalence of hyperhomocysteninemia was 23.4% (N=56). Homocysteine levels were correlated with viral load (r=0.146, p=0.03) and AUDIT score (r=0.167, p=0.011). In multivariate linear regression, viral load remained significant after controlling for AUDIT score, age and gender (β=.188, p=0.006). Higher homocysteine were seen in those with CD4 cell count <200 cells/μL (11.2 vs. 9.8 μM/L, p=0.024) and those not currently on ART (10.4 vs. 9.4 μM/L, p=0.049).ConclusionsIn this HIV+ cohort, homocysteine was associated with HIV disease progression. Further studies on mechanisms through which homocysteine contributes to HIV disease progression are needed.Funded by NIAAA