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Ask the Experts about Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment
What is lipodystrophy? Is it a side effect of HAART or is it directly related to HIV disease progression?
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Response from Dr. Henry
Lipodystrophy refers to body fat distribution and metabolic (lipid and glucose) disorders. The general US population has an increasing rate of obesity (fat problems) and elevated lipids and glucose dysregulation. Thus, aging and life style play a role in fat and metabolic problems. Some of those problems are worsed by HIV infection (increased rate of lipodystrophy with longer time HIV infected and a lower CD4 count) and some are worsed by HIV medicatios. There is a wide range due to individual susceptibilities which often are genetically determined (px X can can a drug regimen with no problems and px Y has fat and lipid problems from the same regimen). The topic is complicated but is getting lots of attention and may of the newer regimens appear to have less of an impact on body fat and metabolism. KH
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Response from Dr. Henry
