title: Difficulties in understanding the metabolic complications of acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
abstract: With the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy, changes in fat distribution and serum metabolites were reported. These included increased central fat ("buffalo hump," abdominal, and visceral); decreased peripheral fat (in the face, legs, and arms); increased levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol, glucose, and insulin; and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Many of these changes predict increased atherosclerosis. It has been proposed that these findings are part of a single syndrome, much like metabolic syndrome. Our data indicate that many of these changes are independent. Some changes are antiretroviral drug (but not necessarily class)-specific, some represent the restoration to health, and others are due to effects of the host response to human immunodeficiency virus itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and University of California, San Francisco 94121, USA.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grunfeld
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tien
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008074:Lipoproteins