Effects of randomized rosuvastatin compared with placebo on bone and body composition among HIV-infected adults.

backgroundStatins have a beneficial effect on bone mineral density (BMD) and lean mass in some studies of HIV-uninfected adults; however, this has never been investigated in the setting of HIV infection.

designHIV-infected individuals on stable antiretroviral therapy with a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level of 130 mg/dl or less and evidence of heightened immune activation or inflammation were randomized to rosuvastatin 10 mg daily or placebo for 96 weeks.

methodsThis was a prespecified interim analysis at 48 weeks. Between-group and within-group differences were compared; multivariable regression models were constructed.

resultsSeventy-two individuals were randomized to statin therapy and 75 to placebo. Modest 48-week relative increases in trochanter BMD [0.9%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.9 to 0.6] and total hip BMD (0.6%; 95% CI 0.0-1.1) in the statin arm were significantly greater than placebo (P < 0.05). The relationship between statin use and total hip BMD change was robust to adjustment of age, sex, race and smoking status (P = 0.02) and strengthened by inclusion of baseline (P = 0.01) and week 48 change in soluble tumour necrosis factor-α receptor (sTNFR)-1 (P = 0.009). Relative increases in total body, trunk and limb fat were similar between statin and placebo arms (P ≥ 0.58). Although a significant gain in leg lean mass was seen in the statin arm, this was not significantly different compared with placebo (P = 0.36).

conclusionThe improvements seen in total hip BMD after 48 weeks of rosuvastatin therapy support further potential benefits of statin therapy in HIV, beyond a reduction of cardiovascular risk.