Use of fenofibrate in the management of protease inhibitor-associated lipid abnormalities

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors are associated with several metabolic abnormalities including hypercholesterolemia and hypertri glyceridemia. Fenofibrate is a new lipid-lowering agent for adults with ver y high triglyceride levels that was administered to two HIV-positive patien ts who were taking protease inhibitors and developed hypertriglyceridemia. Starting dosages were 134 and 201 mg/day, and were increased to 268 mg/day in both patients. Triglyceride levels decreased from 1450 to 337 mg/dl (76. 8%) and from 1985 to 322 mg/dl (83.8%), respectively, after 10 months of th erapy. High-density lipoprotein levels increased in both patients.