In this observational, retrospective study, researchers sought to determine whether long-term discontinuation of the anti-HIV drug (NRTI) stavudine (d4T; Zerit) or protease inhibitor (PI) therapy improves HIV-associated fat distribution in men. French investigators evaluated medical records from Purpan University Hospital and La Grave University Hospital in Toulouse, France.

The study population consisted of 80 men with HIV infection treated with HAART and 151 healthy male controls matched for age.

Results

In part 1 of the study, body composition and fat distribution of the HIV-infected men were compared by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) with those of the controls to determine whether body fat distribution is altered in HIV-infected men.

In part 2, the researchers analyzed modifications of body composition and fat distribution in 45 of the 80 patients. These 45 had been exposed to antiretroviral drugs, including stavudine and a protease inhibitor, for at least 5 months before the first of two DEXA assessments. They received three different treatment strategies for several months.

In group 1, stavudine was withdrawn; in group 2, protease inhibitor was discontinued, and in group 3, stavudine plus protease inhibitor were continued.

Group 1 showed a significant fat gain in the lower extremities 31.7 +/- 5.9 months after stavudine discontinuation (p<0.0001).

Group 2 did not show any significant modification of total body, lower limb, or trunk fat despite protease inhibitor discontinuation for 35.2 +/- 6.6 months.

Findings were similar for group 3, who continued receiving stavudine-protease inhibitor therapy for 21.2 +/- 12.8 months.

Based on these findings, the authors conclude, “These data suggest that long-term withdrawal of stavudine from the antiretroviral therapy regimen may be associated with significant improvement in lipoatrophy in the lower extremities, whereas long-term protease inhibitor withdrawal did not modify fat distribution.”

Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, Cent re Midi-Pyrenees de Pharmacovigilance, de Pharmacoepidemiologie et d'Informations sur le Medicament, Faculte de Medecine, Hopitaux de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.

02/24/06

Reference
N Tavassoli and others. Effects of discontinuing Stavudine or protease inhibitor therapy on human immunodeficiency virus-related fat redistribution evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Pharmacotherapy 26(2): 154-61. February 2006.