Downregulation of CD38 activation markers by atorvastatin in HIV patients with undetectable viral load.

Immune activation and chronic inflammation are recognized as major component of HIV disease even in patients with undetectable viral load. We evaluated the effect of atorvastatin on CD38 activation in such patients, in a case-control study (133 cases - 266 controls). At week 48, CD38 activation was significantly lower in cases vs. controls, with no difference in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and CD4. These results suggest that atorvastatin reduces the level of immune activation in patients with undetectable viral load.