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Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

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Ask the Experts about Facial Wasting
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lipoatrophy tests?
Apr 5, 2008

Dear Dr Pierone: I'm 27 and I've been on HIV meds for a year. I've lost 4kg in the last few month and my face is looking thin, but I'm not sure if this is lipoatrophy or just a result of a change in my diet. How can I tell whether I should be concerned that my meds are affecting my weight? Are there any tests to determine whether I'm developing lipoatrophy, as opposed to just going through a regular body change? Thanks, Bern

Response from Dr. Pierone

There are really no tests to determine if your facial changes represent lipoatrophy or a normal response to diet-induced weight loss. However, if you are taking a medication which is known to increase the risk of lipoatrophy (like AZT or d4T), then common sense would dictate a switch. Good luck!



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