Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the currently available evidence concerning the management of dyslipidaemias in HIV-infected individuals treated with antiretroviral therapy.
Methods: Randomized trials, published within the 5 years preceding 5 October 2005, were identified in PubMed Medline, Embase, and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Studies were then included or excluded, dependent on their meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria. The evidence obtained in the studies that were included was assessed using methods employed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).
Results: Thirteen relevant trials were identified, concerning the use of statins, fibrates, antiretroviral drug switches and insulin-sensitizing drugs. Most contained small numbers of trial participants.
Conclusions: Most studies suggested beneficial effects and satisfactory safety profiles for the interventions studied. However, the insulin-sensitizing drug rosiglitazone appeared to have some detrimental effects on lipid profiles. With the small numbers of participants in the majority of studies, these studies were likely to have been inadequately powered to assess the effects of the interventions examined. Larger trials are therefore necessary.