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Review
. 2018 Jun;15(3):212-222.
doi: 10.1007/s11904-018-0392-1.

NAFLD and HIV: Do Sex, Race, and Ethnicity Explain HIV-Related Risk?

Subada Soti  1 , Kathleen E Corey  2 , Jordan E Lake  3 , Kristine M Erlandson  4
Affiliations
Review

NAFLD and HIV: Do Sex, Race, and Ethnicity Explain HIV-Related Risk?

Subada Soti et al. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2018 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Here, we review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population, discuss HIV-specific differences in NAFLD pathogenesis, and summarize what is known regarding differences in NAFLD by race/ethnicity and sex.

Recent findings: The reported prevalence of NAFLD among people living with HIV varies by age, body mass index, comorbidity, and method of NAFLD diagnosis, but is generally thought to be greater among HIV-infected compared to HIV-uninfected populations. Minorities and women tend to experience poorer HIV treatment outcomes (Meditz et al. J Infect Dis. 203(4):442-51, 2011; Beer et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 95(13):e 3171, 2016; Gant et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 66(40):1065-72, 2017; Millett et al. Lancet. 380(9839):341-8, 2012; Wejnert et al. J Infect Dis. 213(5):776-83, 2016), and are at the greatest risk for significant weight gain with HIV treatment (Erlandson et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 95(46):e 5399, 2016). Thus, women and minorities living with HIV may be at a higher risk of developing NAFLD and progressive liver disease. Disparities in the diagnosis, progression, and prognosis of NAFLD and HIV-associated NAFLD may be, in part, explained by genetic and sex differences; however, data is limited.

Keywords: HIV complications; HIV-associated NAFLD; NAFLD; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Subada Soti and Kathleen E. Corey declare no conflict of interest.

Jordan E. Lake has served as a consultant to Merck and receives research funding from Gilead Sciences.

Kristine M. Erlandson has received research funding (paid to the University of Colorado) from Gilead Sciences, and has served as a consultant to Gilead Sciences, EMD Serono, and Theratechnologies.

References

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    1. Beer L, Mattson CL, Bradley H, Skarbinski J Medical Monitoring P. Understanding Cross-Sectional Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Disparities in Antiretroviral Use and Viral Suppression Among HIV Patients in the United States. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016;95(13):e3171. - PMC - PubMed
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