Endocrine Abstracts

Background: In people with HIV on ARV treatment receiving Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen, weight and lipodystrophy have been reported.

Aim: The aim of this is to evaluate the effect of DTG on the lipid profile and fat distribution on patients who have been switched from a non to a Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen on the lipid profile and fat distribution.

Methods: One hundred patients above 18yrs of age were recruited into two arms of the study (50 patients each). The Non-DTG group were initiated with a protease inhibitor (PI) and the DTG group on ABC/3TC/DTG regimen. The serum lipid profile, blood glucose concentration, body mass index (BMI), were measured. Peritoneal fat was measured by ultrasound scan and skinfold thickness was measured by a skin calliper. All measurements were done at 3 and 6 months. Statistical comparisons were assessed and determined using the chi-square test.

Result: The mean of the study participants was 41.3yrs in the DTG group and 43.6yrs in the non-DTG group. There was no statistically significant difference in fasting glucose (P = 0.176) and total cholesterol (P = 0.045). The mean total cholesterol concentration was 185, 172, 179 and 168 mg/dL at baseline, 3 and 6 months, for the DTG and non-DTG based regimen respectively (P = 0.026). Similarly, mean low-density lipoprotein concentration demonstrated no significant change, with values of 109, 90, 92 and 96 mg/dL at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months (P = 0.025). Triglycerides and LDL levels were also similar. However, there was an increase in the peritoneal fat of the participants on the DTG based regimen (P =.021).

Conclusion: The use of DTG may be associated with lipodystrophy and this could have clinical implications. There is the need for further research, with a multicenter study using a larger sample size.