Lipodystrophy in HIV-infection

Since the availability of protease inhibitors in 1997, there has been a gre at change in antiretroviral therapy but also new long term side effects hav e emerged, mainly metabolic changes such as hypertriglyceridemia, hyperchol esterinemia and hyperglycemia. Besides, fat redistribution has been observe d. Fat wastes in the face and limbs but accumulates in the adipose tissue o f the dorsocervical and abdominal region and the breasts. The mechanism of these changes remains unclear. For therapy a protease inhibitor free therap y or lipid lowering drugs may be tried. 29 of our 224 patients developed li podystrophy. 27 of these patients had been treated with a protease inhibito r (17 patients with indinavir); 2 of the patients had never received protea se inhibitors.