Table 1.

Selected biologic markers associated with coronary heart disease pathogenesis and risk

Marker	Function	Effects in HIV infection
CRP	Acute-phase reactant generated in the liver with proinflammatory activities	Higher levels associated with CHD events and mortality
Fibrinogen	Converted by thrombin into fibrin; involved in active clot formation over an unstable plaque.	Higher levels associated with mortality
D-dimer	Fibrin degradation product and marker of increased turnover of intravascular cross-linked fibrin	Higher levels associated with CHD events, endothelial dysfunction, and mortality
Soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1	Adhesion molecule released in endothelial dysfunction and activation	Higher levels in HIV; levels decrease with antiretroviral therapy
Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2	Proinflammatory molecule that hydrolyzes oxidized phospholipids and is involved in endothelial dysfunction, plaque inflammation, and plaque core necrosis	Insufficient data
P-Selectin	Adhesion molecule promoting leukocyte adherence to endothelium and a marker of platelet activation	No change with antiretroviral therapy
Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1	Proinflammatory chemokine regulating monocytes in inflammatory sites	Higher concentrations associated with greater degree of atherosclerosis
Matrix metalloprotease 9	Involved in turnover of normal and injury-induced extracellular matrix; associated with atherosclerotic plaque destabilization.	Insufficient data
IL-6	Proinflammatory cytokine	Higher levels associated with endothelial dysfunction, HIV progression, and mortality
Myeloid related protein 8/14	Proinflammatory molecule secreted by platelets	Insufficient data

CHD coronary heart disease; CRP C-reactive protein; IL interleukin