Changes in lipid profile of HIV infected patients treated with protease inhibitors

To evaluate the changes in lipid pattern after long-term treatment with Pro tease Inhibitors (PIs) we studied 87 patients (mean age 41.6), treated with PIs. Median CD4 count was 119 cells/mm(3) and median plasma Viral load 94. 2 x 10(3) copies/ml before PI treatment. Mean total cholesterol (TC) and tr iglyceride (TG) levels before PI treatment were 164.9 (+/-44) mg/dl and 140 .2 (+/-66) mg/dl respectively. After 6 months' treatment with Pls mean TC l evels increased by 27% (p<0.001) and mean TG levels increased by 87% (p<0.0 01). Mean Apo A, Apo B and Lipoprotein (a) values after 6 months of treatme nt were 126.6(+/-22) mg/dl, 126.2(+/-38) mg/dl and 20.06(+/-19) mg/dl respe ctively. Mean HDL cholesterol was 34.2(+/-9.9) mg/dl in male and 47.2(+/-7. 3) mg/dl in female patients. In conclusion treatment with PIs increased sig nificantly TC and TG and Apo B levels.