CT measure of fat around heart arteries to spot inflammation in people with HIV
Pericoronary adipose tissue density a novel CT-derived marker of local inflammation and coronary artery disease in people living with HIV
This project uses CT scans of the fat surrounding coronary arteries to find local inflammation and heart disease risk in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11091506 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have HIV, researchers will use existing cardiac CT images and blood test results from the REPRIEVE trial to measure the density of the fat that lies next to your coronary arteries (peri‑coronary adipose tissue, or PCAT). They will compare PCAT density with signs of vulnerable plaque on CT and with blood markers of immune activation and inflammation to see if higher PCAT density lines up with worse artery changes. All imaging and lab data will come from previously collected REPRIEVE study materials, so the work is primarily image analysis and linking scans to clinical and biomarker data rather than new procedures. The aim is to identify a simple, noninvasive CT sign that could help doctors spot coronary inflammation that traditional risk calculators miss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, particularly those enrolled in the REPRIEVE trial or who have had a cardiac CT, are the main candidates for this research.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those with already advanced coronary artery disease, or those who cannot undergo CT imaging are unlikely to benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors better identify people with HIV who are at higher risk for coronary artery disease using routine CT imaging.
How similar studies have performed: PCAT density has shown promise as a noninvasive marker of coronary inflammation in studies of people without HIV, but applying it specifically to people with HIV is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Foldyna, Borek — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Foldyna, Borek
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.