Limited evidence on management of dyslipidemia in HIV

(HealthDay)—A detailed guide has been presented for clinicians who manage dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients. The guide, based on and extrapolated from guidelines for the general population, has been published online Feb. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Merle Myerson, M.D., from Mount Sinai Roosevelt and St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to guide clinicians who manage dyslipidemia in patients infected with HIV.

The researchers note that epidemiologic studies and clinical trials are needed before specific guidelines can be developed to address management of dyslipidemia in this specific patient population. Current guidelines for non-HIV patients should be extrapolated to HIV-infected patients. The investigators present a step-by-step guide for evaluation and management of dyslipidemia which includes assessment of cardiovascular risk; establishing targets of therapy; laboratory evaluation; and clinical intervention, including lifestyle changes and medications, with consideration of drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy and lipid-lowering medications.

"The recommendations presented here are based on existing guidelines for the general population, evidence from research in patients infected with HIV, and the clinical experience of the authors," Myerson and colleagues write. "Management issues for which little or no information is available specific to this patient population are noted and serve to highlight the many gaps in our knowledge that will need to be addressed."

Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.