Morphologic and body composition changes are different in men and women on generic combination antiretroviral therapy--an observational study.
BACKGROUND
Increasingly effective therapies for HIV infection, combination antiretroviral therapy, are now widely available in developing countries. A range of metabolic complications presenting as abnormalities of body-fat mass distribution in association with dyslipidemia and glucose homeostasis dysregulation, have been recognized as important toxicities in patients treated with these drugs. With increasing use of antiretroviral therapy in India, we examined the association between gender and body shape and composition, one year after initiating combination antiretroviral therapy and attempted to identify simple clinical markers to detect and monitor these changes.


METHODS
Patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (2 NRTIs + 1 NNRTI), attending a HIV clinic between July 2005 and December 2006 had anthropometry clinical examination and bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) performed along with blood tests at baseline and after 1 year.


RESULTS
Of the 34 patients on combination antiretroviral therapy, 5 males and 12 females had noticeable changes in their body shape. Significant decrease in triceps skin fold thickness, an increase in waist circumference and waist: hip ratio was observed in females. BIA did not show any change in total body fat in either sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the presence and severity of fat redistribution could affect adherence as well as the success of antiretroviral therapy, close monitoring is required to detect and prevent this complication early.
Department of Clinical Research, Tuberculosis Research Centre (ICMR), Chennai, India.
C
C
Padmapriyadarsini
S
S
Swaminathan
M J
MJ
Karthipriya
G
G
Narendran
Pradeep Aravindan
PA
Menon
Beena E
BE
Thomas
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic