Body fat alterations (lipodystrophy) are being seen just one year after individuals with primary HIV infection commence HAART, warned an Australian doctor at the Lisbon Seventh European Conference on Clinical Aspects of HIV infection.
Dr John Miller of Australia's National Centre of HIV Epidemiology reported that 50% of a cohort of 38 individuals receiving HAART beginning shortly after HIV infection had developed self-reported body fat changes within 13 months. In two cases individuals were receiving d4T/3TC/nevirapine rather than a protease-containing regimen.
These findings are likely to challenge the view that lipodystrophy may be a consequence of long-term HIV infection, low CD4 count or many years of anti-retroviral therapy.
Miller J et al. The occurrence of lipodsystrophic phenomena in patients with primary HIV infection treated with antiretroviral therapy. Seventh European Conference on Clinical Aspects of HIV treatment, Lisbon, abstract 519, 1999.