Aims: We previously observed that some individuals on HIV boosted protease inhibitor-containing regimen do not achieve their lipid targets despite elevated statin concentrations. This study evaluated whether the common single polymorphism c.521T>C in SLCO1B1, associated with reduced statin uptake in the liver, could explain this observation.

Methods: People living with HIV in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study were eligible if they were on a boosted protease inhibitor concomitantly with a statin for at least 6 months and if their SLCO1B1 genotype was available. Furthermore, their lipids had to be documented before and after the introduction of the statin. The statin efficacy was defined as % change in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides levels after statin initiation compared to pretreatment levels. Lipid response was adjusted for differences in potency and dose between statins.

Results: In total, 88 people living with HIV were included, of whom 58, 28 and 2 carried the SLCO1B1 TT, TC and CC genotypes, respectively. The change in lipid levels after statin initiation tended to be lower in carriers of the polymorphism although the difference was not statistically significant (TT vs. TC/CC: total cholesterol: -11.7 vs. -4.8%; low-density lipoprotein- cholesterol: -20.6 vs. -7.4%; high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol: 1.6 vs. 0%; triglycerides: -11.5 vs. -7.9%). In the multiple linear regression, change in total cholesterol was inversely correlated with the total cholesterol level prestatin treatment (coefficient -6.60, 95% confidence interval: -9.63 to -3.56, P < .001).

Conclusion: The lipid-lowering effect of statins tended to be attenuated by SLCO1B1 polymorphism and progressively declined as total cholesterol under the boosted protease inhibitor treatment decreased.