Zhao W, et al. - Among HIV-infected subjects, researchers assessed circulating ceramide levels in association with subclinical cardiovascular disease risk. Participants were identified from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. In 398 women (73% HIV-positive) and 339 men (68% HIV-positive) without carotid artery plaques at baseline, the investigators measured plasma levels of 4 ceramide species (C16:0, C22:0, C24:0, and C24:1). They noted an association of elevated plasma levels of C16:0 and C24:1 ceramides (correlating with immune activation and inflammation) with antiretroviral therapy use and progression of carotid artery atherosclerosis in two HIV cohorts.