A syndrome of peripheral fat wasting (lipodystrophy) in patients receiving long-term nucleoside analogue therapy. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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A syndrome of peripheral fat wasting (lipodystrophy) in patients receiving long-term nucleoside analogue therapy.

AIDS. 1999 Sep 10;13(13):1659-67. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99437266
Saint-Marc T; Partisani M; Poizot-Martin I; Bruno F; Rouviere O; Lang JM; Gastaut JA; Touraine JL; Transplantation and Clinical Immunology Unit, Pavillon P,; Hopital Edouard-Herriot, Lyon, France.


Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare body composition, body fat distribution and insulin secretion in patients taking nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) therapy. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in three French AIDS clinical centres. PATIENTS: Forty-three HIV-infected patients on long-term NRTI therapy including stavudine (n = 27) or zidovudine (n = 16) and 15 therapy-naive HIV-infected patients (control group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fat wasting was assessed by physical examination and body composition by bioelectrical impedance. Regional fat distribution was estimated using caliper measurements of skinfold thickness at four sites and evaluated by computed tomography at abdominal and mid-thigh level. Fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide, triglyceride, cholesterol, free fatty acid, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, cortisol levels, CD4 cell count and HIV viral load were determined. Daily total caloric and nutrient intake were evaluated. RESULTS: The zidovudine group and the control group had similar body composition and regional fat distribution. Stavudine therapy was associated with a significantly lower percentage of body fat (12.9% versus 15.2% in the zidovudine group; P < 0.05), markedly decreased subcutaneous to visceral fat ratio (0.90 +/- 0.63 versus 1.92 +/- 1.34, P < 0.01) and higher mean intake of fat and cholesterol (P < 0.01). Fasting plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were similar among the three groups. Triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the stavudine group than in the controls (P < 0.05), but did not differ between the stavudine and the zidovudine group or between the zidovudine and the control group. Free fatty acids tended to be higher in the stavudine group but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Lipodystrophy was observed clinically in 17 (63%) patients taking stavudine, and in three (18.75%) patients taking zidovudine after a median time of 14 months. The relative risk of developing fat wasting was 1.95 in the stavudine group as compared with the zidovudine group (95% confidence interval, 1.18-3.22). Five out of 12 patients had a major or mild improvement in their lipodystrophy after stavudine was discontinued. CONCLUSION: Lipodystrophy may be related to long-term NRTI therapy, particularly that including stavudine.


Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE MULTICENTER STUDY Adipose Tissue/PATHOLOGY Adult Aged Body Composition Cross-Sectional Studies Energy Intake Female Glucose Tolerance Test Human HIV Infections/*DRUG THERAPY HIV Wasting Syndrome/CHEMICALLY INDUCED Lipids/BLOOD Lipodystrophy/*CHEMICALLY INDUCED/DIAGNOSIS Male Middle Age Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/*ADVERSE EFFECTS Risk Factors Stavudine/*ADVERSE EFFECTS Syndrome Zidovudine/*ADVERSE EFFECTS

KWDjournalarticlemulticenterstudyadiposetissue/pathologyadultagedbodycompositioncross-sectionalstudiesenergyintakefemaleglucosetolerancetesthumanhivinfections/KWDdrugtherapyhivwastingsyndrome/chemicallyinducedlipids/bloodlipodystrophy/KWDchemicallyinduced/diagnosismalemiddleagereversetranscriptaseinhibitors/KWDadverseeffectsriskfactorsstavudine/KWDadverseeffectssyndromezidovudine/KWDadverseeffects
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