Changes in leptin serum levels in HIV-infected children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has significantly improved the prognosis of HIV(+) in children. Human immunodeficiency-associated lipodystrophy syndrome (HALS) is a side effect of HAART seen predominantly in adults and less often in children. Leptin is a protein thought to play an important role in body composition and has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. We retrospectively studied serum levels of leptin in a cohort of eight HIV-infected children followed prospectively before and during HAART and investigated whether there is a correlation of these levels with the clinical, immunological, viral or nutritional changes observed during treatment in these children. None of our children developed HALS. In this small cohort of children, we found that serum leptin levels were appropriate to the nutritional status of the patient and that leptin/BMI increased in patients who responded to HAART. In conclusion, in HIV(+) children during HAART, leptin levels are related to the nutritional status of the child.
Papaevangelou
V
V
2nd Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece. vpapaev@med.uoa.gr
Papassotiriou
I
I
Vounatsou
M
M
Chrousos
G
G
Theodoridou
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D020738:Leptin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019562:Viral Load
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D020738:Leptin