I am 38, diagnosed 5 years ago. On Combivir and Sustiva, started with 350 CD4, 300000 virus copies, around 800-1000 CD4 currently, and undetectable. Been on a IL-2 group too. I am a very skinny guy, but I have a 93 cm. belly circumference (I look like I was 5 months "pregnant"). I got an abdominal tomography (CAT) that shows no accumulation of intra-abdominal fat, and apparently my abdominal muscles are ok. My endocrinologist cant find an explanation (he doesnt know Im HIV positive). He just recommended a non-fat diet (why, If I have no fat?) and maybe electric muscle stimulation. I feel quite grotesque in shape, and my gym exercise wont fix it. Can it be due to lipodistrophy, although CAT shows no fat? Is there anything I can do? Can it be solved or maybe that belly is there to stay?

Thanks for your help

I might ask your HIV specialist to get another read on the CT scan. In my experience radiologists often don't read intra-abdominal (visceral) fat much as they look for specific pathology. For increased intra-abdominal fat, excercise and diet can help some. Growth hormone or growth hormone releasing factor, testosterone replacement, and other modalities are under investigation for treatment for persons with increased visceral abdominal fat. It is unclear whether a switch off your thymidine analogue (the AZT in Combivir) to perhaps abacavir might help some but I have seen some patients seem to benefit from that. KH