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Tesamorelin (Egrifta), a growth hormone–releasing factor analogue, was approved almost 4 years ago for treatment of HIV-associated lipodystrophy and visceral fat accumulation (NEJM JW AIDS Clin Care Nov 22 2010). Visceral adiposity is often associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but premarketing studies did not specifically address the response of this common HIV-associated condition to the drug.
In a small double-blind study, 50 HIV-infected adults with abnormal abdominal fat deposits were randomized to receive tesamorelin or placebo. After 6 months, the tesamorelin group showed not only a significant decrease in mean visceral adipose tissue but also a small but significant decrease in liver fat (about 2%), whereas the pl…