After adjusting for age, sex, race and cardiovascular risk factors including LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity, impaired kidney function, hepatitis C infection, and alcohol or cocaine abuse, the investigators found an increased risk of LEAD in subjects with CD4 cell counts below 500 cells/mm3. The gene discussed is CD4; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.