Tesamorelin Effectively Reduces Visceral Fat in HIV Patients, Regardless of Dorsocervical Fat
Background
Tesamorelin, a synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone, is an approved treatment for reducing visceral adipose tissue (VAT), a type of deep belly fat, in people with HIV who often experience lipodystrophy (abnormal fat distribution). While its efficacy on VAT is well-established, it remained unclear if the presence of dorsocervical fat (often called a "buffalo hump") influences tesamorelin's effectiveness in reducing VAT.
Results
Among tesamorelin responders, significant reductions in both visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and waist circumference (WC) were observed in patients, irrespective of whether they presented with dorsocervical fat. Crucially, the magnitude of VAT reduction did not statistically differ between those with and without dorsocervical fat (P = 0.657), nor did the changes in WC (P = 0.093). This indicates a consistent effect across these patient subgroups. The most important finding was that tesamorelin was equally effective at reducing visceral adipose tissue and waist circumference in people with HIV regardless of the presence of dorsocervical fat.
Why It Matters
This analysis provides strong evidence that tesamorelin can be broadly considered for treating excess visceral adipose tissue in people with HIV, irrespective of the presence of dorsocervical fat. This simplifies clinical decision-making, potentially expanding the patient population who could benefit from this targeted treatment for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Future research could explore if tesamorelin has any direct impact on dorsocervical fat itself, or if combination therapies could address multiple fat compartments more comprehensively.