Metabolic syndrome in HIV-positive patients

A number of abnormalities related to chronic infection and antiretroviral treatment may be observed in a population of HIV-positive patients. A particular state of coexisting, interacting and interrelated disorders referred to as metabolic syndrome is observed in 7–45% of patients infected with HIV. Its presence is related to the abnormalities of adipose tissue distribution known under a common name of ART-related lipodystrophy syndrome. The most common features of metabolic syndrome observed in a course of HIV infection include hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol concentration, while increased waist circumference is the least frequently observed. Treatment of metabolic syndrome encompasses revision and possible changes in antiretroviral therapy, diet, changes in physical activity, pharmacological management of individual components of the syndrome. In this publication we present a review of problems concerning epidemiology, pathophysiology, symptoms and treatment of metabolic syndrome in HIV-positive patients.