Transient hypothermia in HIV-1 with insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency and severe protein calorie malnutrition.

Hypothermia is a multifactorial process that results from decreased heat production or increased heat loss, with the former due to, but not limited to, endocrine dysfunction, malnutrition, and central nervous system pathologies. We report an HIV-1 patient with transient hypothermia secondary to severe protein calorie malnutrition and elevated HIV viral load. In this patient, it is hypothesized that the etiology of the hypothermia was multifactorial due to severe protein calorie malnutrition, evidenced by decreased insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, severe hypothyroidism, and an elevated HIV viral load, since the patient began to improve with the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy, improved nutrition, and continuation of thyroid supplementation.