HIV-associated lipodystrophy (HIV-LD) 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 (SAT). The present study examined the rate of apoptosis in SAT with a sensitive ligase-mediated polymerase chain reaction technique to amplify DNA ladders. Individuals with HIV-LD were compared with HIV-infected subjects without LD and subjects without HIV disease. Although apoptosis was observed in subjects with HIV-LD, there was no difference in the incidence of individuals with apoptosis among those with HIV-LD (10 of 22 subjects), those with HIV but no LD (13 of 25 subjects), and those without HIV disease (13 of 27 subjects). These data suggest that HIV-related chronic loss of SAT may not always be associated with increased frequency of adipocyte apoptosis.