Increased Abdominal Girth . The increase in abdominal size can be significant enough to impair respiration. Women on protease inhibitor therapy sometimes experience breast enlargement, which is often associated with increased abdominal girth. The etiology remains unclear. Patients with this syndrome present with a loss of subcutaneous fat.
Veins become extremely prominent and pronounced in appearance.
Subcutaneous fat loss is also evident in the face, giving the person a very gaunt look. Insulin resistance occurs in people on protease inhibitor therapy and can lead to the development of treatment-related diabetes that may require insulin management. Accompanying insulin resistance is the associated condition of cardiovascular disease. The treatment issues surrounding the metabolic complications of anti-HIV therapy are complex. First, one of the major challenges facing people on antiretroviral therapy is drug adherence.