| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2008 | Volume
: 29
| Issue : 2 | Page : 86-88 |
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Lipodystrophy among AIDS patients: A preliminary report
M Srinivasan1, MR Parthasarathy1, A Vinodhkumaradithyaa1, I Ananthalakshmi1, P Thirumalaikolundusubramanian2
1 Madurai Medical College and Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai - 625 020, India
2 Emeritus Professor of Internal Medicine The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai, India
Correspondence Address:
M Srinivasan
136, Second East Main Road, Anna Nagar, Madurai - 625 020, Tamil Nadu
India
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7184.48731
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Background : Lipodystrophy (LD) is potentially stigmatizing and contributes to poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Objectives : To find out the prevalence and pattern of LD among Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), and to assess the psychological distress related to LD. Materials and methods : A cross-sectional study was designed after institutional ethical clearance and informed consent from 50 AIDS patients on HAART. Data collected were physical examination and response to a standardized questionnaire (Assessment of Body Changes and Distress questionnaire). They were analyzed using SPSS 14.0. Results : All subjects were on lamivudine, stavudine, and nevirapine (82%) or efavirenz (18%). The prevalence of LD was 28% (M = 5; F = 9) and significantly more among women ( P = 0.019). The pattern of LD perceived by patients and assessed on physical examination were abdominal obesity in 50 and 38%, breast hypertrophy in 28 and 14%, wasting of buttocks in 22 and 26%, lipoatrophy of arms in 24 and 28%, and wasting of facial muscles in 20 and 32%, respectively. The overall perceived changes were 68%, while assessed were 62%. The body changes caused significant psychological distress to the patients ( P = 0.001), although compliance was good. Conclusion : The study calls for early detection of LD and treatment or provision of alternative medicines and counseling of these patients, to reduce the physical and psychological burden. |
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