Mechanisms of Cardiac Dysfunction in HIV and the Effect of Statins: A Cardiac MRI Study

In this study, investigators plan to test whether statins can preserve and/or improve
diastolic function among asymptomatic persons with HIV who are on anti-retroviral therapy.
Both myocardial fibrosis and myocardial steatosis are thought to contribute to diastolic
dysfunction and eventually overt heart failure in HIV. HIV-positive participants will undergo
cardiac MRI/MRS imaging studies for the evaluation of myocardial fibrosis and myocardial
steatosis prior to initiation of statin or placebo therapy and then two years after
initiation of statin or placebo therapy. Traditional markers of cardiovascular (CVD) risk,
systemic immune activation/ inflammation, HIV-specific parameters (i.e. CD4 count), and
markers of myocardial stretch/injury will be assessed in relation to cardiac MRI/MRS
outcomes.