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 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Someone I know has some lipodystropy in the back of my neck.
What is the Cause of this and is there a medication that they
can take to make it go away, without having plastic surgery.
Please help.
Which is the good type of cholestol LDL or HDL?
Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.
Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
The causes of lipodystrophy are complex in nature. There may be a genetic predisposition and some of it may be from the HIV medications. The "d-drugs" can cause fat wasting and the PIs fat maldistibution, such as the buffalo hump. That may be related to insulin resistance which can indeed be treated. However that is no guarantee of improvement, but the best thing to do is change the offending drugs. As for the cholesterol, HDL is the good type. In addition to usual medications to improve it, you can ask for an insulin level and if it is elevated then either metformin or rosiglitazone or pioglitazone may help. Ask your MD to try one.
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