The influence of protease inhibitors on a frequency of lipid metabolism disturbances occurrence in HIV-1 infected patients

SummaryHighly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has had a significant impact on the natural history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, leading to a remarkable decrease in its morbidity and mortality. Progressive changes in the distributions of body fat and severe alterations of lipid, glucose and lactate levels challenge the success of a modern antiretroviral therapy. The aim of our study was to asses the risk factors and frequency of lipid metabolism alterations and fat tissue redistribution in HIV infected patients with ongoing HAART including protease inhibitors (PI). In our study hypercholesterolemia as well as lipodystrophy syndrome were observed in approximately 30% of studied population. Both of those disorders were characterised with high coincidence ratio and shared similar risk factors, which include PI administration, HAART continuation for over 24 months, as well as age of 40 or more. Patients yielding those risk factors should be monitoring thoroughly during antiretroviral treatment. In the process of monitoring the dynamics of serum total cholesterol increase can be a helpful marker.