BACKGROUND: Microbial translocation has been suggested as a driver of cardiovascular disease in HIV infection. We hypothesized that microbial translocation and the resulting monocyte activation would be associated with markers of endovascular dysfunction.

METHODS: In 60 HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy, plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide, soluble CD14 (sCD14), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) were measured.

RESULTS: ADMA and SDMA were associated with sCD14 but not lipopolysaccharide. There was a significant increase in ADMA and SDMA through tertiles of sCD14, and both markers were associated with sCD14 in multivariate linear regression analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: Monocyte activation as measured by sCD14 is associated with endovascular dysfunction in HIV infection.