Hypoadiponectinemia is associated with insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and fat redistribution in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

A lipodystrophic syndrome and metabolic abnormalities have been observed in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A murine model of lipodystrophy is associated with decreased levels of adiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted protein, the administration of which improves the metabolic syndrome in these mice. To investigate the association of adiponectin with metabolic changes in human lipodystrophy, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 112 HIV-infected patients treated with HAART.