Review

HIV-associated adipose redistribution syndrome (HARS): definition, epidemiology and clinical impact

Kenneth Lichtenstein¹ , Ashok Balasubramanyam² , Rajagopal Sekhar² and Eric Freedland³

¹  University of Colorado Infectious Disease Group Practice, Denver, CO, USA

²  Translational Metabolism Unit, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

³  EMD Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA, USA

author email corresponding author email

AIDS Research and Therapy 2007, 4:16doi:10.1186/1742-6405-4-16

Published:	16 July 2007

Abstract

A segment of the HIV infected population develops abnormal and excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the trunk, including accumulation of visceral (deep abdominal) adipose tissue. This condition, known as HIV-related adipose redistribution syndrome (HARS), may also be accompanied by fat accumulation in the upper back/neck (dorsocervical region) and/or depletion of subcutaneous adipose tissue from the abdomen, face, limbs, or buttocks. HARS is estimated to occur in up to 32% of patients and is associated with health risks similar to those of metabolic syndrome. Techniques to detect and measure HARS include physician and patient assessments and radiologic or anthropometric methods.