Higher-Than-Expected Rates of Lactic Acidosis Among Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy-Treated Women in Botswana

Abstract

Rates of lactic acidosis appear to be higher in southern Africa when compared with rates previously described elsewhere. Risk factors for the development of moderate to severe symptomatic hyperlactatemia or lactic acidosis appear to be multifactorial but include female gender and having a BMI of greater than 25. Additional studies are ongoing to evaluate for other possible risk factors, such as host genetic differences.