Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between 4 polymorphisms in the leptin, leptin receptor, and adiponectin (APM1) genes and the occurrence of lipodystrophy and dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
Materials and methods: Genotypes of 410 HIV-infected patients on HAART were investigated. Anthropometric (weight, height, waist circumference and skinfolds thickness) and biochemical (blood lipids, glucose, leptin, and adiponectin levels) parameters were evaluated. Genotype frequencies were compared between patients with or without lipodystrophy. Mean biochemical and anthropometric parameters were compared between the different genotypes.
Results: Lipodystrophy prevalence was 53.4%. Genotype frequencies were not different between patients with or without lipodystrophy. Carriers of the A allele for the APM1-11391 G.A and of the C allele for APM1-11377 C.G presented higher adiponectin levels compared to other genotypes, and carriers of the -11391A-11377C haplotype when compared with carriers of other haplotypes.
Conclusions: SNPs in APM1 gene are associated with adiponectin levels in HIV-infected patients receiving HAART and may thus affect the occurrence of metabolic alterations in these patients. No influence of the leptin and leptin receptor gene polymorphisms on the occurrence of lipodystrophy and dyslipidemia was observed.