Lipohypertrophy and metabolic disorders in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy: a systematic multidisciplinary clinical approach.

Introduction : Morphological and metabolic complications in HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy remain a challenge. While new cases of lipoatrophy (LA) disappear, irreducible central lipohypertrophy (LH) and metabolic complications require highly specialized management. We described a day hospital dedicated to lipodystrophy (LD) and metabolic disorders in HIV patients on treatment in Geneva, Switzerland, with a focus on LH. Materials and Methods : The “Groupe Lipo & Metabolism” is a multidisciplinary consultation where patients undergo a standard evaluation including questionnaire, physical examination, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and L5-level CT scans, blood tests and consultations with various specialists. Based on prospectively maintained data, we describe clinical, biological and radiological characteristics of patients ≥18 years who attended the consultation between 2008 and 2013. We defined LH by CT scan, the gold standard method, as abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) ≥130 cm 2 , value associated with increased risk of cardiovascular event. Results : A total of 195 patients attended the consultation during study period. Reasons for referral included LH in 28.3%, LA in 25% and mixed syndrome in 15.5% of cases. Metabolic disorders accounted for 19% of referrals with or without LD features. Among patients with a CT scan performed (n=183), 46 (25%) had LH with a VAT ≥130 cm 2 . In this population, mean age was 49.1 years and 53.6% were male. HIV viral load was 6% in 10.5% of patients. Vitamin-D level was <75 nmol/L in 70.7% of patients. Respectively 31.2% and 12.1% of patients had osteopenia and osteoporosis on the spine and 44.8% and 6.6% on the hip neck. Factors associated with a VAT≥130 cm 2 included male gender (OR 3.7 [95% CI 1.7–8.2] p<0.001), triglycerides ≥2 mmol/L (OR 2.6 [95% CI 1.3–5.4] P<0.01) and increase in BMI category (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.2–2.8] p<0.01). Conclusions : Lipohypertrophy is a prevalent feature of fat redistribution among HIV patients on treatment. Risk factors for LH include male gender, dyslipidemia and overweight. Glucose impairment and bone disorders are also common. A multidisciplinary approach is important to identify and promptly address these disorders. Acknowledgments : The “Groupe Lipo & Metabolism” team. (Published: 2 November 2014) Citation : Abstracts of the HIV Drug Therapy Glasgow Congress 2014 Sculier D et al. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2014, 17(Suppl 3) :19559 http://www.jiasociety.org/index.php/jias/article/view/19559 | http://dx.doi.org/10.7448/IAS.17.4.19559