BACKGROUND: In observational studies, HIV patients have higher levels of soluble ST2 (sST2), galectin-3, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) than non-HIV controls. As statins exert pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects that may affect markers of myocardial fibrosis, the objective of the current study is to determine if biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis reflecting subclinical pathology may be modified by statin therapy in patients with HIV. SETTING AND METHODS: 40 HIV+ men and women participated in a single center 12-month randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial of atorvastatin 40mg qd vs. placebo. At baseline and 12-months sST2, GDF-15, galectin-3, were measured. RESULTS: The changes in sST2 were −0.310 [−4.195,2.075] vs. 1.163 [0.624, 4.715]ng/mL, median[IQR] atorvastatin vs. placebo (p=0.04). The change in sST2 was significantly related to changes in monocyte activation markers sCD14 (r=0.63, p
