Abstract
Background
Lipohypertrophy is defined as excess fat deposition in abdominal defined as visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as well as in the dorsocervical region, breasts, trunk, and along with possible fat deposition in liver, muscle, myocardium and epicardium. Multiple factors have been described as contributing to lipohypertrophy in people living with HIV (PLWH), including patient characteristics, antiretroviral therapy (ART) and also impaired growth hormone (GH) secretion. Tesamorelin, a synthetic form of growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), is indicated for reduction of excess abdominal fat in PLWH with lipodystrophy
Methods
Post-hoc analysis was done on phase 3 randomized, double-blind, multicenter trials. Patients were eligible if between 18 and 65 years of age, had confirmed HIV infection, had evidence of excess abdominal fat accumulation and on stable ART regimen for 8 weeks or more. Participants were randomized to receive tesamorelin 2 mg daily or placebo daily for 26 weeks. Only tesamorelin responders, defined as patients with at least 8% decrease in VAT and who were adherent to the medication, were used for this analysis. Results are reported for patients with and without dorsocervical (DC) fat deposition.
Results
Demographic characteristics of responders at week 26 are shown according to presence or absence of DC fat (Table 1). At week 26, on average, the patients with DC fat deposition had higher BMI and waist circumference (WC) than the group without DC fat. Most patients in both groups had lipoatrophy. Metabolic and anthropometric parameters were measured at week 26 in patients with and without DC fat (Table 2). There was a decrease in VAT and also an improvement in their WC at week 26 in both groups.
Table 1: Baseline Characteristics of Tesamorelin Responder Subjects at Week 26, by Dorsocervical Status
Table 2: Change in Abdominal Adiposity, Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels, and Metabolic Parameters Between Baseline and Week 26 Among Tesamorelin Responders
Conclusion
This data demonstrates that tesamorelin is effective at reducing VAT in both patients with and without DC fat. The medication was well tolerated without significant changes to metabolic based measurements. Treatment of excessive VAT with tesamorelin has seemingly positive results in fat reduction in patients with or without DC fat deposition and our study contributes to the growing literature.
Disclosures
Marilyn de Chantal, PhD, Theratechnologies Inc (Employee) Pedro Mesquita, PhD, Theratechnologies, Inc. (Employee) Judith A. Aberg, MD, Theratechnology (Consultant)
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