Hyperlipidemia in children with HIV infection: an emerging problem

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV infection has transformed HIV/AIDS into a chronic illness and the focus of clinical management has shifted from opportunistic infections to long-term management and toxicities of therapy. Pediatric patients with HIV infection perhaps pose the greatest challenge in this arena as they potentially face many decades of living with HIV/AIDS and its therapies. Although there are numerous emerging medical complications associated with chronic HIV infection and HAART, hyperlipidemia is increasingly recognized among HIV-infected children and adults and will be the focus of this review. The nature and prevalence of lipid abnormalities in children with HIV infection is discussed, as well as possible etiologies for these abnormalities and the future management of this growing challenge for children living with HIV disease.