2nd International Workshop on Adverse Drug Reactions and Lipodystrophy in HIV 13-15 September 2000, Toronto, Canada

INTERFERON-α THERAPY INCREASES PLASMA TRIGLYCERIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN HIV-1 SEROPOSITIVE PATIENTS

Antiviral Therapy 2000; 5(Suppl. 5):25 (abstract no. P2)

JF Morlese, NA Oazi, D Asboe, BG Gazzard and MR Nelson
St Stephen's Centre, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK

BACKGROUND: The aetiology of the dyslipidaemia associated with HAART is unknown. It has been hypothesized that immune activation characterized by abnormal cytokine responses may play a role in the development of dyslipidaemia. Interferon-α concentrations are increased in immune activation.

OBJECTIVES: We therefore undertook a study to determine whether exogenous interferon-α altered plasma triglyceride concentrations in HIV-seropositive patients.

DESIGN: A retrospective study of all HIV-1- seropositive patients treated with subcutaneous interferon-α therapy at the Kobler Centre in whom serial plasma triglyceride concentrations were available. Each patient received interferon-α at a dose of at least 3 mU three times per week for a minimum of 3 weeks. Ten patients (nine male, one female) were studied, of which eight were hepatitis C-co-infected. The mean age was 37.6 years and the mean CD4 cell count was 338.5 cells/ml. Sixty percent of the patients had a viral load less than 50 copies/ml.

RESULTS: The plasma triglyceride concentration was significantly greater after 2 months of interferon-α therapy when compared with the pre-therapy value (6.20±4.81 versus 3.03±1.09 mmol/l, Mean±SD P<0.01 ANOVA with repeated measures). There were no significant differences between the plasma cholesterol concentration pre-therapy and 2 months post-therapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Plasma triglyceride concentrations are increased in HIV-1-seropositive patients treated with exogenous interferon-α therapy. This evidence supports the hypothesis that increased cytokine concentrations play a role in the development of dyslipidaemia and lipodystrophy in HIV-infected patients treated with HAART.

000913
P2

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