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Monitoring cholesterol, other parameters urged for children with HIV
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Children with HIV are at an increased risk for lipid abnormalities and insulin resistance, and vigilant monitoring of these abnormalities is necessary to provide treatment, according to findings published online recently.
Rohan Hazra, MD, of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at NIH, and colleagues published data on 249 children in Latin America with perinatal HIV. The researchers looked at the children’s insulin, lipid and glucose levels.
Rohan Hazra
“Abnormalities in total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were reported for 13%, 13%, 21%, and 34%, respectively,” according to the study researchers. However, they also said a smaller percentage of children in their cohort had impaired fasting glucose or insulin resistance.
“One of the great success stories in HIV treatment research is the fact that treated HIV-infected children are now expected to survive well into adulthood around the world.” Hazra told Infectious Diseases in Children. “Research to evaluate metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other complications potentially related to treatment and/or HIV itself helps to ensure that they can lead the most healthy and productive lives possible.”
The researchers reported some limitations to their findings, including lack of comparative data from children who did not have HIV.
Rohan Hazra, MD, can be reached at hazrar@mail.nih.gov.
Disclosure: Hazra reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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