Biomaterial Database

The etiology of wasting in the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 1998

A Strawford, and M Hellerstein

Human Nutrition Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, UK.

Wasting is a debilitating complication of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The etiology of wasting in HIV/AIDS is complex and its origins are multifactorial. Both patterns of simple starvation and the more complex metabolic and endocrine alterations associated with stress and trauma have been described in patients with the AIDS wasting syndrome. Observations suggest that the pathophysiology of the wasting in individual patients with HIV/AIDS may vary according to the primary cause of wasting and underlying disease activity. Optimal treatment of the AIDS wasting syndrome will depend on a thorough evaluation of all possible contributing factors. This review addresses the pathophysiologic basis of weight loss in HIV/AIDS, based on the current literature.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D001823	Body Composition	The relative amounts of various components in the body, such as percentage of body fat.	Body Compositions,Composition, Body,Compositions, Body
D004702	Endocrine Glands	Ductless glands that secrete HORMONES directly into the BLOOD CIRCULATION. These hormones influence the METABOLISM and other functions of cells in the body.	Endocrine Gland,Gland, Endocrine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015658	HIV Infections	Includes the spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus infections that range from asymptomatic seropositivity, thru AIDS-related complex (ARC), to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).	HTLV-III Infections,HTLV-III-LAV Infections,T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human,HIV Coinfection,Coinfection, HIV,Coinfections, HIV,HIV Coinfections,HIV Infection,HTLV III Infections,HTLV III LAV Infections,HTLV-III Infection,HTLV-III-LAV Infection,Infection, HIV,Infection, HTLV-III,Infection, HTLV-III-LAV,Infections, HIV,Infections, HTLV-III,Infections, HTLV-III-LAV,T Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human
D019247	HIV Wasting Syndrome	Involuntary weight loss of greater than 10 percent associated with intermittent or constant fever and chronic diarrhea or fatigue for more than 30 days in the absence of a defined cause other than HIV infection. A constant feature is major muscle wasting with scattered myofiber degeneration. A variety of etiologies, which vary among patients, contributes to this syndrome. (From Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed, p1611).	AIDS Wasting Syndrome,HIV Wasting Disease,Slim Disease,Wasting Disease, HIV,Wasting Syndrome, HIV,Wasting Syndrome, AIDS