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Looking at heart attack risks in HIV positive patients


June 24, 2014

Dr. Paul MacPherson and Dr. Girish Dwivedi of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute have been awarded a three year, $375,000 grant from The Ontario HIV Treatment Network to study potential new ways to reduce the risks of heart attacks in people who are HIV positive. With new antiretroviral medications, people with HIV are living longer but are also facing new health challenges. Due to chronic inflammation from HIV infection, HIV positive people are at a greater risk of having a heart attack. A class of medications known as "statins" not only reduces cholesterol but also reduces inflammation in blood vessels. This reduction in inflammation decreases the risk of having a heart attack. Dr. MacPherson and his team want to know if these medications will also benefit HIV positive individuals. This study will help us understand whether statins benefit HIV positive individuals and keep their hearts healthy. OHRI co-investigators include Drs. Jonathan Angel, George Wells and Vicente Corrales-Medina.

About the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital and is an affiliated institute of the University of Ottawa, closely associated with the university’s Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences. OHRI includes more than 1,700 scientists, clinical investigators, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and staff conducting research to improve the understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease.

Media contact
Paddy Moore
Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
613-737-8899 x73687
613-323-5680 (cell)