Can growth hormone relieve side effects of protease inhibitors?
Cet article est galement disponible en franais. One of the problems that has been associated with the use of protease inhibitors (PIs) is the strange accumulation of fat in the abdomen and shoulders (” buffalo hump”) seen in some people receiving treatment. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this problem. However, according to one doctor in the US, growth hormone may be helpful. The doctor in question reported his experience with two patients, one male and the other female, at the recent World AIDS Conference held in Geneva. Both patients had used protease inhibitor therapy with saquinavir and indinavir in one case and ritonavir, saquinavir and nelfinavir in the other. Both patients developed “buffalo humps”, and experienced loss of muscle in the arms and legs, a thickening of their abdomen, fatigue and increased levels of triglycerides in the blood. The patients were given injections under the skin of human growth hormone (Serostim) at a dose of 6 mg/day for 3 to 6 months
