Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with marked
disturbance of metabolism affecting the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats
and proteins. In the first decade of clinical experience of HIV, the primar
y clinical manifestation of such disturbed metabolism was wasting. Such was
ting was often severe and contributed significantly to the morbidity and mo
rtality of AIDS. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that in addition to the e
ffects of altered intermediary metabolism, reduced food intake played a maj
or role in the causation of AIDS-related wasting. More recently, potent ant
i-retroviral drugs have dramatically changed the clinical consequences of H
IV infection. Wasting has become far less frequent among infected patients
and occurs in only a small percentage of subjects on effective anti-retrovi
ral therapy. However, a new constellation of metabolic syndromes has become
apparent characterized by altered body fat distribution ('lipodystrophy'),
lactic acidosis and evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, The mechanistic
basis for such syndromes is currently unclear, but is the subject of ongoi
ng research. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.