**5.4. Genetic factors**

HAART-associated lipodystrophy and dyslipidemia may be related to genetic predisposition. Studies on HIV-1 patients with hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL were shown to be associ‐ ated with different polymorphisms in the *APOCIII* gene. Promoter polymorphisms -455T>C and -482C>T in the *APOCIII* gene are both associated with increased levels of TG containing lipoproteins (VLDL) and low HDL values. Carriers of the -455T>C genetic variant had 30% lower levels of HDL compared to those without this polymorphism and plasma lipid concen‐ trations increase according to the number of these variant alleles. Another variant nucleoside, the -1131T>C promoter polymorphism in the *APOA5* gene, was associated with hypertrigly‐ ceridemia in PI-based patients [65-68].
