Buffalo neck in HIV-positive patients receiving protease inhibitor therapy

Background. Lipodystrofy and other fat distribution disorders have been rep orted in patients receiving protease inhibitor therapy for HIV infection. Case report. A 50-year-old HIV-positive patient was given protease inhibito r therapy (indinavir) for 6 months when he developed a lipomatous formation in the retrocervical area. Abdominal fat also increased in volume and the subcutaneous fat on the lower limbs decreased. Discussion. We describe the main clinical features of these fat distributio n disorders and discuss the-pathogenic hypothesis of an interaction between antiprotease activity and hepatic lipoprotein receptor binding.