In a study comparing atazanavir (TAZ) with
nelfinavir (NFV), only 7-8 per cent of patients on TAZ experienced significantly
raised blood fat levels, compared with 25 per cent on NFV.
Delegates heard that for people who already have facial or limb wasting,
injections of facial 'filler' clearly improve quality of life (see John
Stevens on page 42). But drugs may help too. The exotically-named rosiglitazone,
one of a group of diabetes drugs, may reverse both fat wasting and accumulation
in some patients. Four out of nine patients treated with 'Rosy' at one
clinic said their facial wasting had improved, and their waist/hip ratio
declined - meaning their paunches shrank.
Another diabetes drug, metformin, considerably reduced abdominal fat in
19 patients - but may cause weight loss too. Metformin and rosiglitazone
may work better together; an American trial of both is planned. Gus
Cairns
page 4 of 8
contents
of issue 73/74
back
issues
the
gazette
recipes
small
ads
contacting
us
weblinks
'Majority' get side effects
A study has found that up to two-thirds of people taking anti-HIV medication
experience side effects, and for up to a quarter of patients those effects
are severe.
The study looked at 1,160 patients taking anti-HIV drugs in the Swiss
HIV Cohort, one of the best-documented groups of patients in the world.
It found that over the last five years nearly half experienced clinical
side effects such as diarrhoea, vomiting and sleep disturbance, and over
a quarter had blood abnormalities such as anaemia
and raised liver enzymes. Some presented with both.
