HIV-associated lipodystrophy is characterized by a loss of adipose tissue from the subcutaneous compartment. Previously reported data suggested that this loss of adipose tissue was the result of an increased rate of apoptosis in subcutaneous adipose tissue. The present study examined the rate of apoptosis in subcutaneous adipose tissue with a sensitive ligase-mediated polymerase chain reaction technique to amplify DNA ladders. Individuals with HIV lipodystrophy were compared with HIV-infected subjects without lipodystrophy and subjects without HIV disease. Although apoptosis was observed in subjects with HIV lipodystrophy, there was no difference in the frequency of individuals with apoptosis among those with HIV lipodystrophy (10/22), those with HIV but no lipodystrophy (13/25), and subjects without HIV disease (13/27).