Lipodystrophy in HIV-infected children is associated with high viral load and low CD4+ -lymphocyte count and CD4+ -lymphocyte percentage at baseline and use of protease inhibitors and stavudine.
Alterations in regional fat, often associated with abnormalities in lipid and insulin metabolism, have been reported in HIV-infected adults. To determine whether similar abnormalities occur in children with HIV, patterns of change in regional body fat distribution were determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in 28 prepubertal HIV-infected children. Eight (29%) children experienced lipodystrophy (LD), defined as extremity lipoatrophy together with trunk fat accumulation. Despite a mean body weight increase of 2.9 +/- 2.4 kg, children with LD experienced a mean loss of total fat in contrast to children without LD who increased total fat (-0.151 +/- 0.324 versus 0.981 +/- 1.041 kg; p <.01). Children with LD had significantly higher levels of HIV RNA and lower CD4 count and percentage at baseline. LD was associated with use of protease inhibitors or stavudine, (odds ratio [OR], 7.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-45.2, p =.04; OR, 9.0, 95% CI, 1.4-59.8, p =.03, respectively). This observational study suggests that during a time in childhood when accumulation of extremity and trunk fat is expected, some HIV-infected children experience changes in fat distribution that are similar to HIV-associated LD reported in adults. Studies to determine whether HIV-infected children with changes in regional fat also experience increases in "atherogenic" lipids and insulin resistance as described in adults with HIV-associated LD are warranted.
Arpadi
S M
SM
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, New York, USA. smarpadi@pol.net
Cuff
P A
PA
Horlick
M
M
Wang
J
J
Kotler
D P
DP
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001823:Body Composition; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008060:Lipodystrophy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D018119:Stavudine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D018119:Stavudine