A University of Pittsburgh  Medical Center (UPMC), press release offers information on a definition of HIV-associated lipodystrophy. According to Lawrence Kingsley, PhD, lack of a definition has affected the reported incidence of this phenomenon. Kingsley proposes that the definition of HIV-associated lipodystrophy include categories for peripheral lipoatrophy and mixed lipodystrophy. Peripheral lipoatrophy is defined as "moderate or greater subcutaneous fat loss in two or more of the following areas: arms, legs, buttocks or face scored as mild, moderate or severe." "Mixed" lipodystrophy would include peripheral lipoatrophy along with "moderate or greater increased fat accumulation in the abdomen or breasts, with or without additional fat at the back of the neck." A third category is defined as peripheral lipoatrophy or mixed lipodystrophy with glucose or lipid metabolic abnormalities.

Kingsley suggests that health care providers track changes in height, weight, body-mass index, arm, thigh, waist, hip and waist-to-hip ratio. He also recommends the use of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify muscle, bone, visceral and subcutaneous fat. Periodic lab tests should include fasting blood levels for cholesterol, triglycerides, hemoglobin A1c, glucose, insulin, apolipoprotein A and B, and lipoprotein A.

Source: University Of Pittsburgh Researcher Provides First-Ever Definition Of HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy. Press Release. UPMC Health System News Bureau.

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UT Southwestern) hope to identify the role that protease inhibitors play in causing lipodystrophy and perhaps also present a better definition of the lipodystrophy syndrome. For additional information on lipodystrophy visit the Lipodystrophy Research Site at UT Southwestern. Read about ongoing metabolic studies at UT Southwestern and the Center for Human Nutrition. Also, learn about clinical trials.

CONFERENCE NEWS

Several sessions at the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) Food & Nutrition Conference & Exhibition (FNCE) on October 22, 2001 in St. Louis, MO offered useful information for clinicians working in the field of HIV/AIDS and nutrition. Of particular note was the HIV/AIDS Dietetic Practice Groups' sponsored session featuring Mary Romeyn, MD and Carmen Martinez, MS, RD. The handout from Dr. Romeyn's lecture on Metabolic and Morphologic Changes in HIV/AIDS, "Living Long Is The Best Revenge" is at the Andrew Ziegler Foundation web site.

Other presentations discussed herbal products and quality of life issues for women. Session Internet links are at,  Introduction, Fugh Berman1  and  Fugh Berman2 .