HIV medicine
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HIV-associated lipodystrophy is a disorder of fat metabolism that occurs in patients with HIV infection. It can cause metabolic derangements and negative self-perceptions of body image, and result in noncompliance with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Growth hormone (GH) axis drugs have been evaluated for treatment of this disorder, but no systematic review has been conducted previously. ⋯ Our review indicates that, based on the findings of the 10 included studies, GH axis treatments are effective in reducing VAT and increasing LBM in patients with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. However, clinicians must decide whether the attributed benefits are clinically significant, considering the costs and potential risks of GH axis treatments. A limitation of this study is the small number of studies available of each GH axis drug class.