Racial differences in serum lipids in HIV+ women treated with protease inhibitor regimens.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors in Caucasian and African American HIV+ women undergoing treatment with HAART including a protease inhibitor (PI).


METHODS
Anthropometric measures and fasting blood samples were obtained from 32 Caucasian and 10 African American women. Serum was analyzed for glucose, insulin, and lipid levels.


RESULTS
The African American women were significantly older than the Caucasian women. Body mass index (BMI) was higher in the African American women, and 80% of the African American women and 47% of the Caucasian women were overweight. There were no significant differences in fasting insulin, fasting glucose, or HOMA-IR. However, African American women had significantly higher HDL levels, whereas Caucasian women had higher triglycerides and LDL. When age-matched women were compared, total as well as LDL cholesterol was significantly higher in the Caucasian women. The ratio of total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol was 3.4 +/- 1.1 in the African American women and 5.5 +/- 1.6 (p=.021) in the age-matched Caucasian women.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in lipid levels in HIV+ African American and Caucasian women were greater than those reported in the literature for normal women. Although the sample size is small, the data suggest that the effect of HIV infection and/or HAART on lipid levels may be different in Caucasian and African American women. Large-scale studies will be necessary to confirm these results and clarify the mechanisms involved.
Bausserman
Linda L
LL
Department of Medicine, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA.
Tashima
Karen T
KT
DiSpigno
Melissa
M
Maceroni
Denise
D
Carpenter
Charles C J
CC
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People; D016387:Women's Health; D001741:Black or African American
D001786:Blood Glucose; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids