[Antiretroviral treatments-related lipodystrophy syndrome: clinico-pathological findings]

MRI signal changes of the bone marrow in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy: correlation with clinical parameters

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence, imaging appearance, and clinical significance, of bone marrow MR signal changes in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with lipodystrophy syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy syndrome treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, and 12 HIV-negative controls underwent MRI of the legs. Whole-body MRI, SPECT/CT, and a complete radiographic skeletal survey were obtained in subjects with signal changes in bone marrow. MRI and clinical evaluations were reviewed 6 months after baseline to determine changes after switching from thymidine analogs (TA) to tenofovir-DF (TDF). MRI results correlated with clinical parameters.

RESULTS

We observed foci of a serous-like pattern (low signal and no enhancement on T1-weighted, high signal on T2-weighted images) in 4 out of 28 patients (14.3%) and an intermediate signal on T1-weighted images in 4 out of 28 patients (14.3%). Serous-like lesions were located in the lower limbs and scattered in the talus, calcaneus, femurs, and humeral bones; they showed slight uptake on SPECT bone scans and were normal on CT and radiographs. Patients with serous-like lesions had significantly lower peripheral and total fat at baseline than other groups (P < 0.05). No changes at 6 months were observed on MRI, and the serous-like lesion group showed good peripheral fat recovery after changing drug treatment.

CONCLUSION

A serous-like MRI pattern is observed in the peripheral skeletons of HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy, which correlates with peripheral lipoatrophy, and should not be misdiagnosed as malignant or infectious diseases. Although the MR lesions did not improve after switching the treatment, there was evidence of lipoatrophy recovery.

Lipodystrophy in pediatric HIV

OBJECTIVE

To assess fat accumulation in children with HIV/AIDS on long term HAART using CDC defined Body mass Index (BMI) criteria and measured Bioelectric Impedance (BI).

METHODS

Prospective study of 48 HIV infected children (ages 6-15 years) on HAART to determine the incidence of lipodystrophy and evaluate methods of determining body fat accumulation. Lipodystrophy was diagnosed using clinical features-truncal obesity with facial/limb wasting. BMI (weight in kg/height in meters2) was plotted on CDC curves to predict the risk of obesity. BI was performed using Omron's HBF301 body fat analyzer and reported as TBF %/height. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Results were compared using ANOVA RESULTS: Average duration of HAART was 2.4 years. Forty five of 48 patients were on protease inhibitors. Fifteen (31%) developed Lipodystrophy, but CDC BMI curves identify only 7/15 as overweight or at risk for obesity. However, TBF/Ht of 30% (using BI) was 85% sensitive and 88% specific in identifying Lipodystrophy. Hyperlipidemia occurred in 28/48 (58%) overall, in 14/15 (93%) diagnosed with lipodystrophy.

CONCLUSION

Lipodystrophy is a significant problem in children with HIV/AIDS on HAART. BI is more useful than BMI in identifying patients with abnormal fat accumulation and should be incorporated in their routine assessment in the ambulatory setting.

Sarcoid-like lesions associated with the immune restoration inflammatory syndrome in AIDS: absence of polymerase chain reaction detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in granulomas isolated by laser capture microdissection

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients can develop granulomatous lesions within the first few weeks of initiating therapy. This immune syndrome, called immune restoration inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), can induce sarcoid-like lesions in tissues. The pathogenesis of these granulomas is currently unknown because no pathogen has been identified to date in the lesions using morphological and/or microbiological approaches. However, the role of certain microbes, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is still debated. The aim of this study was to look for the presence of M. tuberculosis in sarcoid-like lesions occurring in 14 AIDS patients treated with HAART. We used the PCR DNA amplification method in granulomas microdissected from sections stained by hematoxylin-eosin from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. Results were compared to those obtained from microdissected tuberculosis (TB) granulomas (15 patients) and from microdissected sarcoidosis granulomas (12 patients). M. tuberculosis DNA was undetectable from the microdissected sarcoid-like granulomas, whereas DNA from M. tuberculosis was isolated in all the microdissected TB granulomas and was absent in the microdissected sarcoidosis granulomas. Taken together, these data showed that M. tuberculosis DNA is not associated with the presence of sarcoid-like lesions occurring in HIV-positive patients treated with HAART.