acipimox and HIV-Infections

Aim of this review is to focus the attention on people living with HIV infection at risk of developing a cardiovascular event. What is or what would be the most suitable antiretroviral therapy? Which statin or fibrate to reduce the risk? How to influence behavior and lifestyles?. Prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk remains the first and essential step in a medical intervention on these patients. The lifestyle modification, including smoking cessation, increased physical activity, weight reduction, and the education on healthy dietary practices are the main instruments. Statins are the cornerstone for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. They have been shown to slow the progression or promote regression of coronary plaque, and could also exert an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect. However the current guidelines for the use of these drugs in general population are dissimilar, with important differences between American and European ones. The debate between American and European guidelines is still open and, also considering the independent risk factor represented by HIV, specific guidelines are warranted. Ezetimibe reduces the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. It is effective alone or in combination with rosuvastatin. It does not modify plasmatic concentrations of antiretrovirals. A number of experimental new classes of drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia are being studied. Fibrates represent the first choice for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia, however, the renal toxicity of fibrates and statins should be considered. Omega 3 fatty acids have a good safety profile, but their efficacy is limited. Another concern is the high dose needed. Other drugs are acipimox and tesamorelin. Current antiretroviral therapies are less toxic and more effective than regimens used in the early years. Lipodistrophy and dyslipidemia are the main causes of long-term toxicities. Not all antiretrovirals have similar toxicities. Protease Inhibitors may cause dyslipidemia and lipodystrophy, while integrase inhibitors have a minimal impact on lipids profile, and no evidence of lipodystrophy. There is still much to be written with the introduction of new drugs in clinical practice.. Cardiovascular risk among HIV infected patients, interventions on behavior and lifestyles, use of drugs to reduce the risk, and switch in antiretroviral therapy, remain nowadays major issues in the management of HIV-infected patients.

Topics: Anti-HIV Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Dyslipidemias; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; HIV Infections; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Lipids; Lipodystrophy; Pyrazines; Risk Factors

Patients infected with HIV have a high risk of developing dyslipidemia. Effective therapeutic strategies can be challenging due to an increase risk of drug interactions and other comorbidities. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology and the principles of pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions can be of value in the appropriate management of dyslipidemia in the HIV-infected patient.

Topics: Anti-HIV Agents; Anticholesteremic Agents; Azetidines; Cholesterol, HDL; Cholesterol, LDL; Diet Therapy; Dyslipidemias; Exercise Therapy; Ezetimibe; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fibric Acids; Glutathione; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; HIV Infections; Human Growth Hormone; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Leptin; Niacin; Pyrazines; Thiazolidinediones; Triglycerides

Metabolic abnormalities such as hypertriglyceridemia remain a challenge for optimizing long-term health in HIV-infected patients.. Elevation of free fatty acids (FFAs) may contribute to hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance in HIV. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of chronic inhibition of lipolysis in HIV-infected men and women with hypertrigyceridemia. We hypothesized that acipimox would lead to significant reductions in triglycerides and improved insulin sensitivity, compared with placebo.. A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of acipimox (250 mg thrice daily) vs. placebo was conducted in 23 HIV-infected men and women with hypertriglyceridemia (>150 mg/dl), abnormal fat distribution, and no current lipid-lowering therapy. The primary outcome variable was triglyceride concentration, and insulin sensitivity measured by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was a secondary outcome.. The study was conducted at an academic medical center.. Acipimox resulted in significant reductions in FFAs [mean change -0.38 (0.06) vs. 0.08 (0.06) mEq/liter with placebo, -68 vs. +17% change from mean baseline, P < 0.0001], decreased rates of lipolysis (P < 0.0001), and a median triglyceride decrease from 238 mg/dl at baseline to 190 mg/dl, compared with an increase from 290 to 348 mg/dl in the placebo group (P = 0.01). Acipimox improved insulin sensitivity [acipimox +2.31 (0.74) vs. placebo -0.21 (0.90) mg glucose per kilogram lean body mass per minute, or +31 vs. -2% change from mean baseline values, P = 0.04]. Improvements in insulin sensitivity were significantly correlated with reductions in FFAs (r = -0.62, P = 0.003) and lipolysis (r = -0.59, P = 0.005).. Acipimox resulted in significant sustained reductions in lipolysis, improved glucose homeostasis, and significant but modest reductions in triglycerides in HIV-infected individuals with abnormal fat distribution and hypertriglyceridemia. Improvement in overall metabolic profile with acipimox suggests a potential clinical utility for this agent that requires further investigation.

Topics: Adult; Body Composition; Double-Blind Method; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Female; HIV Infections; HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome; Humans; Hypertriglyceridemia; Hypolipidemic Agents; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Male; Middle Aged; Placebos; Pyrazines; Triglycerides

Fatty acid concentrations are increased in patients with HIV and fat redistribution and may contribute to insulin resistance in this population.. We determined the effects of acute inhibition of lipolysis on insulin sensitivity in HIV-infected patients with fat redistribution who were receiving a protease inhibitor.. Seven HIV-infected men [age: 45 +/- 2 y; body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 28.8 +/- 1.9] with a fasting insulin concentration > or= 104 pmol/L (15 micro IU/mL), combined visceral adiposity and peripheral lipoatrophy, and receiving a protease inhibitor were studied. Tolbutamide-modified frequently sampled intravenous-glucose-tolerance tests (FSIGTTs) were performed after randomized double-blind administration of acipimox (500 mg at -90 and 0 min), a potent inhibitor of lipolysis, and placebo. The subjects completed 2 FSIGTTs separated by 3-7 d.. At baseline, fasting insulin and fatty acid concentrations were 27.6 +/- 5.0 micro IU/mL and 0.83 +/- 0.08 mmol/L (normal range: 0.1-0.6 mmol/L), respectively. Fatty acid concentrations were significantly reduced after acipimox compared with placebo (fatty acid area under the curve: acipimox = 73 +/- 8 compared with placebo = 122 +/- 12 mmol x 270 min/L, P = 0.002). Acipimox treatment resulted in a significant increase in the insulin sensitivity index (acipimox = 1.63 +/- 0.5 compared with placebo = 0.88 +/- 0.3 x 10(-4) x min(-1) x micro IU/mL, P = 0.015).. Acute inhibition of lipolysis and reduction in fatty acid concentrations are associated with improved insulin sensitivity in patients with HIV lipodystrophy and hyperinsulinemia. Further studies are needed to determine whether long-term antilipolytic strategies to reduce fatty acid concentrations may be useful in treating the metabolic disturbances associated with HIV lipodystrophy.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Adult; Area Under Curve; Fasting; Fatty Acids; Glucose Tolerance Test; HIV Infections; Humans; Hyperinsulinism; Hypolipidemic Agents; Insulin Resistance; Lipodystrophy; Lipolysis; Male; Middle Aged; Protease Inhibitors; Pyrazines; Viscera