Evaluation of glucose uptake by skeletal muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat in HIV-infected patients with and without lipodystrophy using FDG-PET.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate differences in glucose uptake by skeletal muscle tissue and subcutaneous fat in HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) presenting with and without lipodystrophy as well as in drug-naive HIV patients using F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography.


METHODS
Thirty-nine consecutive patients suffering from HIV: seven drug-naive patients, 21 nonlipodystrophic patients on HAART and 11 patients on HAART, respectively, suffering from lipodystrophy were prospectively included. All patients underwent a whole-body FDG positron emission tomography examination. Standardized uptake values (SUV values) of muscle and subcutaneous fat were compared and related to demographic and biochemical variables.


RESULTS
SUV mean values of subcutaneous fat were significantly higher in patients under HAART presenting with lipodystrophy when compared with untreated and treated, nonlipodystrophic patients (P=0.000). SUV mean values of subcutaneous fat significantly correlated with treatment duration (r=0.56, P=0.000) and CD4 count (r=0.51, P=0.001) and inversely correlated with viral load (r=-0.61, P=0.000). Finally, SUV mean values of thigh muscles were not significantly different between the three different patient groups under study.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative FDG uptake by subcutaneous fat proved significantly higher in HIV patients under HAART presenting with lipodystrophy. HAART did not influence FDG uptake by human skeletal muscle tissue under basal conditions.
Sathekge
Mike
M
Department of aNuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa. mike.sathekge@up.ac.za
Maes
Alex
A
Kgomo
Mbo
M
Stolz
Anton
A
Ankrah
Alfred
A
Van de Wiele
Christophe
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008060:Lipodystrophy / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose