Fat city: understanding HIV lipodystrophy.

Researchers at the 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva shared information on HIV lipodystrophy syndrome (LDS), addressing the difficulty in defining and understanding the condition. Researchers discussed the prevalence of LDS, its endocrinology, and suggested possible causes. There is uncertainty as to which anti-HIV drugs may cause LDS and whether switching drug regimens once LDS is diagnosed will reverse the condition. Evidence is now suggesting that there is little chance that diabetes is being caused by protease inhibitors, however, hyperlipidemia appears to be more common than expected. Studies investigating if physiological or endocrinological abnormalities may cause LDS have not shown any consistent changes to indicate that a specific mechanism may be the cause.