Insulin Resistance in HIV Infection: Effects of Protease Inhibitors

Protease inhibitors (PIs) are widely assumed to induce a syndrome of insulin resistance accompanied by hyperlipidemia and fat redistribution that resembles the metabolic syndrome with its increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers now believe, however, that numerous factors contribute to the metabolic alterations observed in HIV-infected patients and that some of these factors may be overlooked if only a single cause is assumed.