title: Effectiveness of subcutaneous growth hormone in HIV-1 patients with moderate to severe facial lipoatrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effect of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) among HIV-infected adults with moderate to severe facial lipoatrophy as a side effect of long-term antiretroviral treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective open-label study
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five HIV-1 patients with moderate to severe facial lipoatrophy who had been on antiretroviral treatment for more than 18 months were enrolled. rhGH (5 mg) was given every other day for 6 months. After treatment was completed, the participants were followed up for 6 months. Facial lipoatrophy was evaluated by computed tomography at months 0, 3, 6 and 12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly all participants (24 of 25) completed the study. The sum of bilateral soft tissue thickness at the level of zygomatics at months 0, 3, 6, 12 were 7.23, 8.59, 8.35, 8.60 mm, respectively. There was significant improvement from baseline in month 3 (p=0.009) and month 12 (p=0.021). In the 6 months of follow-up, the soft tissue showed no significant decrease. Several side effects including diarrhea, arthralgia, myalgia, mastalgia and hand numbness were seen, which were self-limited and transient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rhGH is effective and relatively safe for moderate to severe facial lipoatrophy. Its effect was sustained at least for 6 months after the cessation of rhGH.
authors.affiliation: AIDS Clinical Center, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan. mihonda@imcj.acc.go.jp <mihonda@imcj.acc.go.jp>
authors.forename: Miwako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yogi
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
authors.forename: Ikumi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Genka
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gatanaga
authors.forename: Katsuji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teruya
authors.forename: Natsuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tachikawa
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D039682:HIV-Associated Lipodystrophy Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone