Researchers find Cholesterol Levels Elevated in Toddlesrs Taking Anti -HIV Drugs

Toddlers receiving anti-HIV drugs have higher cholesterol levels, on average, than do their peers who do not have HIV, According to researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other institutions. The researchers found that cholesterol levels tended to be highest among children who received a certain type of drugs - those know as protease inhibitors. The average cholesterol reading for this group was 169 milligrams per deciliter of blood (mg/dL), compared with 152 mg/dL for children on other antiretroviral drugs and 147 mg/dL for children the same age who did not have HIV. In contrast, HIV Positive children who were not on medication had relatively low cholesterol levels, 122 mg/dl, on average. In addition, 10.8 percent of HIV positive toddlers twice the proportion of toddlers without HIV- had cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL. This level is considered borderline high risk for developing heart disease.
Sources:- www.Pharmabiz.com