Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Apr;19(2):141-153.
doi: 10.1007/s11904-022-00600-6. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Metabolic Consequences of Antiretroviral Therapy

Caroline E Diggins  1 , Samuel C Russo  1 , Janet Lo  2
Affiliations
Review

Metabolic Consequences of Antiretroviral Therapy

Caroline E Diggins et al. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review reports on published studies describing metabolic changes associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) to treat HIV disease including a historical perspective of earlier ART agents, but with the main focus on newer ART agents currently in use.

Recent findings: Studies from different countries around the world have shown that integrase inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimens as well as tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) are associated with weight gain, with women and people of black race at especially high risk. Some studies preliminarily suggest worsened metabolic outcomes associated with this weight gain including adverse effects on glucose homeostasis. Antiretroviral therapy can affect weight, adipose tissue, glucose, and lipids. As obesity is prevalent and increasing among people with HIV, awareness of risk factors for weight gain, including the ART medications associated with greater weight gain, are needed in order to inform prevention efforts. Further research is needed to better understand the long-term health consequences of INSTI- and TAF-associated weight increases.

Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; Cholesterol; Diabetes; Dyslipidemia; Integrase inhibitors; Weight gain.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
    1. Walensky RP, Paltiel AD, Losina E, Mercincavage LM, Schackman BR, Sax PE, et al. The survival benefits of AIDS treatment in the United States. J Infect Dis. 2006;194(1):11–9. https://doi.org/10.1086/505147 . - DOI - PubMed
    1. Joly V, Flandre P, Meiffredy V, Leturque N, Harel M, Aboulker JP, et al. Increased risk of lipoatrophy under stavudine in HIV-1-infected patients: results of a substudy from a comparative trial. AIDS. 2002;16(18):2447–54. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002030-200212060-00010 . - DOI - PubMed
    1. Carr A, Workman C, Smith DE, Hoy J, Hudson J, Doong N, et al. Abacavir substitution for nucleoside analogs in patients with HIV lipoatrophy: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2002;288(2):207–15. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.2.207 . - DOI - PubMed
    1. van Vonderen MG, van Agtmael MA, Hassink EA, Milinkovic A, Brinkman K, Geerlings SE, et al. Zidovudine/lamivudine for HIV-1 infection contributes to limb fat loss. PLoS ONE. 2009;4(5): e5647. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005647 . - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Bogner JR, Vielhauer V, Beckmann RA, Michl G, Wille L, Salzberger B, et al. Stavudine versus zidovudine and the development of lipodystrophy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2001;27(3):237–44. https://doi.org/10.1097/00126334-200107010-00004 . - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources