[A study of HIV-related lipodystrophy syndrome in 55 HIV-infected Chinese adult patients].

Objective: To study the prevalence, clinical characteristics and risk factors of HIV-related lipodystrophy syndrome (HIV-LD) in our cohort of HIV-1 infected Chinese adults.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 55 HIV-infected patients were recruited from the HIV clinic of Peking Union Medical College Hospital; most of them were undergoing the first-class highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) of today in China. Lipoatrophy or lipohypertrophy was defined if there was concordance between the report of fat change and clinical examination of the participants. Whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning was performed.

Results: Prevalence of clinical body fat redistribution in the present study was 47.3%. Comparing with non-LD patients, HIV-LD patients had elder age and longer exposure to HAART (P < 0.05). HAART exposure and stavudine (d4T) usage were two independent risk factors for HIV-LD.

Conclusions: HIV-related fat redistribution does exist in Chinese HIV population. Peripheral lipoatrophy occurs commonly in HIV-infected adults but is not associated with increased trunk fat. HAART exposure and especially d4T usage are independent risk factors for HIV-LD.