Elevated Soluble CD14 and Lower D-Dimer Are Associated With Cigarette Smoking and Heavy Episodic Alcohol Use in Persons Living With HIV.

BACKGROUND: Persons living with HIV are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease in part because of persistent inflammation and coagulation activation. METHODS: We examined whether smoking and heavy episodic alcohol use (defined as 5 or more drinks on one occasion) were associated with greater monocyte activation (soluble CD14) and coagulation (D-dimer) in participants in the Study to Understand the Natural History of HIV and AIDS in the Era of Effective Therapy (the "SUN" Study), a prospective observational cohort. RESULTS: Using regression analysis (n = 689), current smoking compared with nonsmoking was associated with significantly elevated soluble CD14 (B = 135.57, 95% confidence interval: 84.95 to 186.19, P < 0.001), whereas heavy alcohol use compared with nonheavy use was associated with significantly lower D-dimer levels (B = -0.059, 95% confidence interval: -0.102 to -0.016, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking cessation should be encouraged by HIV care providers to improve mortality outcomes from all causes of death, particularly cardiovascular disease.