HIV RepoRts

Background: Most pediatric lipodystrophy data come from high-income/ middle-income countries, but most HIV-infected children live in sub-Saha-ran Africa, where lipodystrophy studies have predominantly investigated stavudine-based regimens. Methods: Three years after antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, body circumferences and skinfold thicknesses were measured (n = 590), and fasted lipid profile assayed (n = 325), in children from 2 ARROW trial cen-tres in Uganda/Zimbabwe. Analyses compared randomization to long-term versus short-term versus no zidovudine from ART initiation [unadjusted; latter 2 groups receiving abacavir+lamivudine+non-nucleoside-reverse-transciptase-inhibitor (nNRTI) long-term], and nonrandomized (con-founder-adjusted) receipt of nevirapine versus efavirenz. Results: Body circumferences and skinfold thicknesses were similar regard-less of zidovudine exposure (P> 0.1), except for subscapular and supra-iliac skinfolds-for-age which were greater with long-term zidovudine (0.006 < P < 0.047). Circumferences/skinfolds were also similar with efavirenz and nevirapine (adjusted P> 0.09; 0.02 < P < 0.03 for waist/waist-hip-ratio). Total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, HDL/triglyceride-ratio (P < 0.0001) and triglycerides (P = 0.01) were lower with long-term zidovudine. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol was higher with efavirenz than nevirapine (P < 0.001). Most lipids remained within normal ranges (75 % cholesterol, 85 % LDL and 100 % triglycerides) but more on long-term zidovudine (3 NRTI) had abnormal HDL-cholesterol (88 % vs. 40 % short/no-zidovudine, P < 0.0001). Only 8/579(1.4%) children had clini-cal fat wasting (5 grade 1; 3 grade 2); 2(0.3%) had grade 1 fat accumulation. Conclusions: Long-term zidovudine-based ART is associated with simi-lar body circumferences and skinfold thicknesses to abacavir-based ART, with low rates of lipid abnormalities and clinical lipodystrophy, providing reassurance where national programs now recommend long-term zidovu-dine. Efavirenz and nevirapine were also similar; however, the higher LDL observed with efavirenz and lower HDL observed with zidovudine suggests that zidovudine+lamivudine+efavirenz should be investigated in future