Mitochondrial toxicity and one of its symptoms called lactic acidosis have been highlighted recently as a previously undiagnosed side effect of anti-HIV drugs. Although much more research is needed to fully understand this issue, this article explores the current thoughts about the connections among mitochondrial toxicity, lactic acidosis and lipodystrophy.
Mitochondria are tiny rods found inside all human cells.
Essentially, they are the cell s power plants and are also involved in the formation of protein and the processing of fat in cells. Several things can affect how well mitochondria work. As people age, get an infection or take certain anti-HIV drugs, changes can occur in mitochondria. These changes, or mutations, may damage the mitochondria and either disrupt the normal function of the cells or cause them to stop working altogether. Mitochondrial toxicity is a general term that refers to these changes.