HIV-associated lipodystrophy commonly presents with fat loss in face, buttocks, arms and legs.[citation needed]
There is also fat accumulation in various body parts. Patients often present with "buffalo hump"-like fat deposits in their upper backs. Breast size of patients (both male and female) tends to increase. In addition, patients develop abdominal obesity.[citation needed]
The exact mechanism of HIV-associated lipodystrophy is not fully elucidated. There is evidence indicating both that it can be caused by anti-retroviral medications and that it can be caused by HIV infection in the absence of anti-retroviral medication.[citation needed]
On the other hand, there is evidence that HIV-1 infection on its own contributes to the development of the lipodystrophic phenotype by interfering with some key genes of adipocytedifferentiation and mitochondrial function on patients which have not received antiretroviral treatment.[3]
^James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN978-0-7216-2921-6.
^ abMartinez E, Mocroft A, García-Viejo MA, et al. (February 2001). "Risk of lipodystrophy in HIV-1-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors: a prospective cohort study". Lancet. 357 (9256): 592–8. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04056-3. PMID11558485. S2CID33325225.
