Risk of metabolic abnormalities in patients infected with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy that contains lopinavir-ritonavir

The evolution of fasting glucose, triglyceride, and total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level and the factors associated with development of clinically significant abnormalities in these metabolic parameters at 6 months were assessed in 353 consecutive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients who were receiving antiretroviral therapy containing lopinavir-ritonavir. Although glucose and HDL cholesterol levels did not change, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels significantly increased (P<.001 for each), as did the proportion of patients with a triglyceride level of >400 mg/dL and a total cholesterol level of >240 mg/dL (P=.002). A baseline triglyceride level of >400 mg/dL and a baseline total cholesterol level of >240 mg/dL were identified as independent factors predicting clinically significant hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, respectively, at 6 months. These findings may have clinical implications when the therapeutic option of lopinavir-ritonavir is considered.