Graeme Moyle, Karen Schoelles, Kyle Fahrbach, Diana Frame, Kimberly
James, Rachel Scheye, Nancy Cure-Bolt
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2004
Dec 1; 37 :S262-S276 15722869 (P,S,G,E,B)
The purpose of this review was
to assess the efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), testosterone,
and anabolic steroids in the treatment of HIV wasting. The reviewers searched
the literature for studies published in English since 1996. The 18 studies
selected included studies of anabolic steroids, testosterone, and rhGH in the
treatment of HIV wasting that reported the efficacy outcomes of body composition
measures, work output, or health-related quality of life.
Treatment with
rhGH, testosterone, and anabolic steroids all demonstrated significant efficacy
in increasing lean body mass compared with placebo. The reviewers concluded that
the FDA approved dose of rhGH may have advantages over the other two therapies
in terms of improvements in functional capacity and quality of life..
