July 12, 2000
Dennett, et al., from Glaxo Wellcome reported on an "expert panel" of 47 French physicians who among other things were not able to reach a consensus on the "exact definition" of abnormal fat distribution and metabolic abnormalities. They did agree that just under half of patients on protease inhibitor (PI) therapy and 15% on other antiretroviral therapy experience symptoms of these conditions. Exercise, dietary modifications and changes to the antiretroviral therapy regimen were generally recommended. Other interventions ranged from lipid-lowering drugs to growth hormone, liposuction or plastic surgery. They calculated the cost of added monitoring and intervention and found it significant (but greatly speculative). The authors concluded that, "there is currently a lack of effective therapeutic options to treat patients with fat maldistribution and metabolic abnormalities."