Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Dear Doc.
Is there any news in reference to wasting?
How can one replace the fat back into the wasted areas such as the legs, arms, neck?
Can the blockage that exists be opened?
Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.
Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
Good question. It depends on what the wasting is caused by. If it is HIV, then treating the HIV is the clear answer. If it is from the HIV meds, then changing the meds will help dramatically. Usually it is D4T or DDI plus a protease inhibitor that is the cause. If it is caused by insulin resistance, then if you ask your MD to check your insulin level, that can be treated with medication. The fat in the arms and legs will come back some and the fat in the belly will diminish. Unfortunately the fat in the cheeks will rarely come back. There is a lot of work being done on this lately. Take heart!
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