Weight gain associated with protease inhibitor therapy in HIV-infected patients.
Weight loss and wasting are significant complications of HIV disease. HIV protease inhibitor therapy promotes clinical, immunologic and virologic improvement in HIV-infected patients. In this study, we sought to determine the specific effect of HIV protease inhibitors on patient weight. Ten consecutive HIV patients were treated with protease inhibitor-containing regimens over six months. CD4 T-cell counts, plasma viral load levels and bariatric changes were monitored during the study. Patients experienced a mean weight gain of 19 Pounds (P = 0.006). There was a significant increase in mean CD4 T-cell count (P = 0.008) and a significant decrease in mean viral load level (P = 0.004). The increase in CD4 T cells did not correlate with weight gain, whereas the decrease in viral load did show a significant correlation with the weight increase (P = 0.003). The mechanism of protease inhibitor-induced weight gain is discussed. The medications may also be useful for wasting diseases unrelated to HIV.
Stricker
R B
RB
Department of Medicine, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, USA.
Goldberg
B
B
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019469:Indinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019258:Saquinavir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018119:Stavudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015430:Weight Gain
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D019469:Indinavir; D018119:Stavudine; D019258:Saquinavir; D019438:Ritonavir