title: Weight loss and wasting remain common complications in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: It has been postulated that the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) would reduce the occurrence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated weight loss and wasting. To test this assumption, we evaluated, by means of longitudinal analysis, a prospective cohort of 469 HIV-infected individuals enrolled in a study of the impact of HIV on nutrition. Overall, 156 individuals in the cohort (33.5%) met at least 1 of these definitions of wasting. Furthermore, 58% of the cohort (289 patients) lost >1.5 kg of weight in a 6-month period between any 2 study visits. More than 50% of the cohort was receiving HAART at the time that they met 1 of the definitions of wasting; with regard to the occurrence of wasting; no differences were related to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. christine.wanke@tufts.edu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Speigelman
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gorbach
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019247:HIV Wasting Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents