Facial and Limb Fat Loss: Lipoatrophy Since the advent of potent
anti-HIV therapy there have been increasing reports of changes
in body composition among people living with HIV. These include
increases in fat in various areas of the body (the stomach area,
behind the base of the neck and/or breast enlargement) or
decreases in body fat (in the face, arms and/or legs) and
changes in the way the body processes fats (called lipids). Any
combination of these conditions is called lipodystrophy. While
all these conditions have been lumped together, it's likely they
are actually different syndromes which are caused by different
things. Protease inhibitors and the NRTI drug 3TC are more
associated with increases in lipids and/or accumulation of body
fat. NRTI drugs like AZT and particularly d4T and other similar
drugs are more associated with fat loss (sometimes called facial
and limb wasting or lipoatrophy). This article focuses on
lipoatrophy, what is known and what can be done about it. What
Causes Lipoatrophy? Lip