Metabolic Abnormalities in HIV-infected Persons

Although HIV antiretroviral medications have helped patients live longer, they have also been associated with side effects including insulin resistance and changes in body fat distribution. Changes in body fat distribution associated with HIV antiretroviral medications may result in increased fat in the abdomen, neck, and upper back, which is often called central fat deposition. HIV antiretroviral medications may also result in loss of fat in legs, arms, and face, which is often called peripheral fat atrophy.

This study will obtain preliminary data on the effect of 12 weeks of metformin on insulin sensitivity and hepatic and peripheral muscle fat in HIV-infected persons with insulin resistance and central fat deposition. Similarly, this study will obtain preliminary data on the effect of 12 weeks of pioglitazone on insulin sensitivity and hepatic and peripheral muscle fat in HIV-infected persons with insulin resistance and peripheral fat atrophy.

This study involves taking a drug that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans for a period of 3 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-70 years
• Fasting insulin >12 μU/mL and/or serum glucose between 140-200 mg/dl after 75 g 2hr oral glucose tolerance test
• Central fat deposition or Peripheral fat atrophy
• Fasting glucose ≤126 mg/dL
• BMI ≥18 and ≤35 kg/m2
• CD4 cell count ≥100 cells/mm3
• Stable antiretroviral regimen ≥12 weeks and HIV RNA <1000 copies

Exclusion criteria

• Diabetes mellitus
• Cardiac pacemaker or metal implant
• Liver enzymes >2.5x upper normal limit
• Alkaline phosphatase or prothrombin time >2x upper normal limit
• Serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL
• History of congestive heart failure
• Hemoglobin <8 g/dL
• Alcohol abuse
• Pregnancy
• History of lactic acidosis
• Use of steroids
• Acute infection within last one month
• History of bladder cancer