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Lipodystrophy is
a medical term used to describe changes in how fat is distributed
throughout our bodies, and may cause a number of different problems being
seen in people living with HIV/AIDS:
-
A
buildup of fat: Some
people see an increase in the amount of fat around their gut, and also
on the back of their neck and shoulders, and even in their breasts.
-
A
loss of fat:
This occurs usually in the face, arms, legs, and buttocks. A loss of
fat in the face can cause sunken cheeks, and when fat is lost in the
arms or legs, the outlines of veins and muscles may show through the
skin.
Commonly
asked questions about lipodystrophy:
I’m
getting fat! Is it lipodystrophy?
It
is important to remember that anti-viral drugs, especially when used
in combination, have helped prevent wasting syndrome, and are
keeping people alive longer. With improved health and age comes the
possibility of weight gain and normal body-shape changes. In other
words, it might not be lipodystrophy after all.
How
common is lipodystrophy?
Accurate
numbers regarding how many people have lipodystrophy are hard to
come by. Some reports suggest that less than 10% of HIV- positive
people have lipo, while other reports have found that more than 80%
of people currently taking HIV medications suffer from this problem.
Does
lipodystrophy affect all people the same?
Some
studies have demonstrated that lipodystrophy affects some people
differently, depending on their gender.
More research is needed to answer this very important
question.
What
is the cause of lipodystrophy?
Lipodystrophy
was first reported in 1996 when a number of people taking protease
inhibitors began noticing abnormal changes in their body shape and
size, along with sharp increases in their blood lipid levels. While
a number of researchers have spent a lot of time over the past three
to four years, researching this topic, they still do not know what
causes it. However, most experts agree that it is a side effect of
anti HIV therapy.
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