A Study of Megestrol Acetate Alone or in Combination With Testosterone Enanthate Drug in the Treatment of HIV-Associated Weight Loss

Summary

To test the hypothesis that the predominant accrual of fat rather than lean body mass (LBM) that occurs during treatment of HIV-associated wasting with megestrol acetate may be improved by treatment with megestrol acetate and testosterone enanthate in combination. Body wasting is an increasingly frequent AIDS-defining condition in individuals infected with HIV. Increasing caloric intake fails to consistently restore lean tissue patients with HIV associated weight loss. Megestrol acetate has been shown to stimulate appetite and weight gain in subjects with cancer and in those with HIV associated weight loss. However, the weight gained during treatment with megestrol acetate was predominantly or exclusively fat. An important factor is the preferential increase in body fat seen in both of these studies may have been due to hypogonadism that occurs as a result of treatment with megestrol acetate, a progestational agent. Hypogonadism is associated with an increase in body fat and a decrease in LBM. Concomitant testosterone replacement should substantially increase the amount of LBM accrued during megestrol acetate therapy. This study will determine whether anabolic potential can be realized when caloric intake is increased in the absence of concomitant hypogonadism.

Timeline

Start

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Primary completion

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Completion

2002-12

Publications

• Background Schambelan M, Zackin R, Mulligan K, Sattler FR, Chesney M, Stevens M, Edwards L, Egorin MJ, Von Roenn JH. Effect of testosterone (T) on the response to megesterol acetate (MA) in patients with HIV-associated wasting: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial (ACTG 313). 8th Conf Retro and Opportun Infect. 2001 Feb 4-8 (abstract no 640)

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