Protease inhibitor-associated angiolipomatosis

Treatment with protease inhibitors in some persons infected with HIV-1 is a ssociated with a syndrome of lipodystrophy manifesting as peripheral lipoat rophy, relative central adiposity, insulin resistance, and serum lipid abno rmalities. We report 3 cases of HIV-1 infected patients who experienced sym ptomatic angiolipomas shortly after starting antiretroviral therapy includi ng the protease inhibitor indinavir. The mechanism behind this observation may be similar to that of previously reported protease inhibitor-associated fat redistribution, but instead involving the adipose tissue of discrete u ncommon benign tumors.