Characterization of low level viraemia in HIV-infected patients receiving boosted protease inhibitor-based antiretroviral regimens.

To understand the pathogenesis of low level viraemia (LLV) in HIV-infected patients on boosted protease inhibitors (PI/b), we enrolled 34 subjects with a median HIV-RNA 79 copies/mL and followed them for 15 months. Samples for next generation sequencing were collected at three time-points. Two showed resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in the protease gene, while 95-100% had RAMs in the gag gene, which evolved in approximately a quarter of subjects, suggesting a potential clinical role of these kind of mutations.

Surgical management of bilateral parotid lipomatosis in a patient with HIV.

BACKGROUND: The long-term use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has led to sequelae including lipodystrophy syndrome (LDS). We present the first published case of surgical management of bilateral parotid lipomatosis in a patient with HIV on long-term HAART. METHODS: We undertook review of the case notes from the time of diagnosis with HIV and literature review of this topic. RESULTS: A 45-year-old man with HIV on HAART presented with a 4-year history of increasing bilateral facial swelling. He was asymptomatic apart from the stigmatizing cosmetic deformity. MRI revealed the parotid glands had been replaced by fat. He elected for surgery and parotid lipomatosis was diagnosed on histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: Lipohypertrophy in LDS is rare in the literature and this presentation of bilateral parotid lipomatosis secondary to HAART is only the third reported case, and the first to undergo surgical resection.