Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The therapy with antiretroviral drugs is associated with increasing reports of metabolic abnormalities such as body fat abnormalities, impaired glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, dyslipidemia. We investigated the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with AIDS in treatment with antiretroviral drugs.

Materials and methods: Forty-six patients (22 women and 24 men) with AIDS in treatment with antiretroviral drugs (2 nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors+a protease inhibitor) after 5 years were recruited for this study. Fasting glycemia and 2 h OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test: ingestion of 75 g glucose disolved in 250–300 ml water) were assesed. Glycemia has been measured by glucose-oxidase method. Glycemia levels have been classified as recommended by World Health Organization definition. Results were compared with measurements in 38 patients with AIDS but without tratment with antiretroviral drugs.

Results: The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 4.34% (2 patients), of impaired glucose tolerance was 8.69% (4 patients), and of diabetes mellitus was 10.86% (5 patients), in patients with AIDS tratment with antiretroviral drugs. The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose in patients with AIDS without treatment with antiretroviral drugs was 2.63% (1 patient) and of diabetes mellitus 2.63% (1 patient).

Conclusion: This study showed that patients with AIDS in treatment with antiretroviral drugs have a greater prevalence of diabetes mellitus than patients with AIDS without treatment with antiretroviral drugs (level more than 3 times). Patients with AIDS in treatment with antiretroviral drugs should be routinely screened for diabetes mellitus.