Overview
This study aims to identify the risk factors that lead to the development of metabolic liver disease in people who have been newly diagnosed with HIV. The research will take place across 9 centers in Türkiye and plans to include 250 newly diagnosed individuals with HIV, alongside 161 healthy individuals without HIV as a control group.
Participants will have their liver health checked when they first join the study (baseline) and then once a year for up to 5 years (at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months). The main goal of these visits is to monitor their metabolic health and understand who is at risk of developing a fatty liver condition known as MASLD (Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease).
During each visit, the research team will collect information about the participants' general health, including their height, weight, medical and family history, lifestyle habits, and sleep patterns. They will also record any medications being taken, including HIV treatments. To thoroughly check liver health, researchers will use routine blood tests (measuring things like cholesterol, blood sugar, and kidney function) and painless, non-invasive imaging tests, such as ultrasounds and FibroScans, to measure liver fat and stiffness.
Description
Background and Rationale:
The prospective determination of risk factors associated with the development of metabolic liver disease is of critical clinical importance, particularly in newly diagnosed People Living with HIV (PLWH). This multi-center, prospective, observational cohort study aims to identify and monitor the risk factors contributing to the development of Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) in newly diagnosed PLWH, compared to an HIV-negative healthy control group.
Study Design and Population:
The study will be conducted across 9 centers in Turkey (Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kocaeli, and Şanlıurfa). The targeted enrollment is a total of 411 participants, consisting of 250 newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals and 161 HIV-negative healthy controls.
Methodology and Follow-up:
Participants in both the patient and control groups will undergo comprehensive clinical, laboratory, and radiological evaluations at the time of diagnosis (baseline) and subsequently every 12 months for a total follow-up period of 5 years (60 months). By longitudinally tracking metabolic, anthropometric, and hepatic parameters, the study will map the incidence of MASLD and stratify the metabolic risk factors over time.
Clinical Assessments (Conducted at Baseline, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months):
To ensure standardization across all follow-up visits, the following parameters will be uniformly evaluated at every study time point:
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics: BMI (Height and Weight), comprehensive medical history, family history, presence of comorbidities, current medications, lifestyle habits, alcohol and substance use, and sleep patterns.
HIV-Specific Parameters: Details of the initiated Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) regimen.
Laboratory Parameters: Fasting glucose, HOMA-IR score, Lipid profile (Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, LDL, HDL, LDL/HDL ratio, VLDL), Renal function tests (GFR, creatinine, urea, proteinuria), and systemic/hepatic markers (CRP, AFP, INR, FIB-4 index).
Radiological and Non-Invasive Hepatic Evaluations: Hepatobiliary ultrasonography (USG) and FibroScan measurements (recording both Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) and Liver Stiffness Measurement (LSM) values).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria (For the Patient Group / Newly Diagnosed HIV+):
- Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye
- Adults (≥ 18 years of age)
- Confirmed Anti-HIV positive (Newly diagnosed)
- Patients who are initiating Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
Inclusion Criteria (For the Healthy Control Group / HIV-):
- Citizens of the Republic of Türkiye
- Adults (≥ 18 years of age)
- Confirmed Anti-HIV negative
Exclusion Criteria:
- There are no specified exclusion criteria for this study.
