Abstract

Introduction: Metabolic derangements and body fat abnormalities are well known in HIV infection, both due to virus and to treatment. Various abnormalities in lipids are described in HIV. Increased triglyceride, low total cholesterol, low HDL, low LDL have been noted prior to treatment. With better medication and care, longevity of patients has increased resuting in worsening cardiovascular morbidity. It is hence mandatory to document the pretreatment lipid profile in HIV infected patients.

Materials & Methods: A comparative cross sectional study of 50 treatment naïve HIV infected patients and 50 non infected controls were included in the study. Subjects were those attending the ART clinic, and HIV positivity was confirmed by NACO guidelines. Informed consent and ethical clearance and permission from KSACS were obtained. Patients with comorbidities likely to influence the lipid profile were excluded from the study. Detailed history, clinical examination data including anthropometry were entered in proforma. Lipid profile was tested in both groups.

Results were computed and analysed using SPSS software.

Results: There were significant differences in lipid profile between HIV infected and non infected groups. There was statistically significant lowering of total cholesterol LDL, HDL and elevation of triglycerides & VLDL in HIV infected. There was proportionate reduction in total cholesterol, LDL and HDL as CD4 count decreased. TG, VLDL increased as CD4 decreased. ( P <0.05).

Conclusions: Pretreatment lipid abnormalities in lipid profile noted were lower TC, HDL & LDL and higher TG& VLDL. The abnormalities linearly correlated with CD4 counts.

Keywords: HIV: human immunodeficiency virus, TC: total cholesterol, LDL: low density lipoprotein, TG : triglycerides, HDL: high density lipoproteins, VLDL : very low density lipoproteins, WC: waist circumference, WHR: waist hip ratio.