Endothelial biomarkers and Von Willebrand factor in human immunodeficiency virus-naïve individuals in a semi-rural community of Mankweng area, Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected over 70 million people globally. The Sub-Saharan African countries have over 23.5 million people living with HIV, with South Africa having over 17% of the total number of HIV-infected people globally. The infection leads to metabolic, thrombotic and cardiovascular disease complications. There is a scarcity of studies on biomarkers of HIV infection in South Africa, hence the study and the focus on rural areas. The cross-sectional study investigated the effects of HIV infection on the L-selectin, P-Selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) as endothelial biomarkers and, Von Willebrand factor (VWF). The study included 87 participants (males: n = 33; females: n=54), aged 18 – 81 years. It consisted of 36 HIV-positive participants not on treatment (HIV-naïve) and 51 HIV-negative participants. The L-Selectin, P-Selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and VWF levels were measured on fasting blood samples. Chi-square, Bonferroni post hoc and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests were performed. The HIV-naïve group was found to have mean values for L-selectin, P-selectin, sICAM-1 and VWF significantly higher than those of the HIV-negative group (p-values: 0.010, 0.001, 0.017 and 0.013, respectively). Human immunodeficiency virus infection was thus found to be inflammatory, with blood levels of some endothelial biomarkers and VWF raised. Endothelial damage and dysfunction were the anticipated complications based on the findings.