Downmodulating Monocyte Activation for HIV-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
HIV associated neurological disorders (HAND), are a major problem even in ART treated people.
HAND results from chronic inflammation which is largely attributed to expansion and
activation of monocytes. These activated monocytes, some of which also carry virus to the
brain, invade the CNS and release cytokines / chemokines resulting in further recruitment of
monocytes, as well as release viral proteins which injure neurons and cause activation of
other brain cells. Persistent monocyte/macrophage activation is thus a potential critical
target for adjunctive therapy to treat or prevent HAND. The investigators therefore propose
to study the effects of a statin drug (Atorvastatin), which has anti-inflammatory functions,
on the monocyte activation status in ART treated HIV+ individuals.
The investigators objectives are based on the hypothesis that Atorvastatin treatment will
reduce the inflammatory and activated phenotype and function of monocytes which have been
linked to HIV associated neuropathogenesis and occur in HIV infected subjects despite ART. In
this study the investigators propose to
1) define the effect of Atorvastatin on monocyte activation in HIV infected / ART treated
subjects in a double blind, placebo controlled crossover study