Hyperinsulinemia'having high levels of insulin in the body'has been linked with the development of so-called buffalo humps, the buildup of fatty deposits on the neck and upper back among some HIV-positive people taking antiretroviral drugs, Australian researchers report in the February 1 edition of Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
In two ongoing studies in the country, the development of buffalo humps was strongly associated with elevated insulin. Other risk factors included high blood pressure and the use of AZT.
The researchers urge doctors to monitor HIV patients who are developing humps for signs of rising insulin levels and diabetes. They also warn that human growth hormones, which are under investigation to treat HIV-related fat changes, have been shown to induce elevated blood insulin levels and should not be used in patients with buffalo humps.
