| Summary: | Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lipodystrophy is a medical condition characterized by body composition changes, including lipohypertrophy. Patients with lipohypertrophy typically have excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in the abdomen, but may also accumulate fat in other areas of the body. The underlying mechanisms of lipohypertrophy are poorly understood, thus complicating efforts to determine its etiology. Researchers hypothesize its pathogenesis to be related to the virus itself or to specific antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens. Evidence suggests that the use of protease inhibitors, in particular, is commonly associated with the development of lipohypertrophy. Excess VAT negatively affects patients' body image and quality of life (QoL). Tesamorelin is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone-releasing factor that triggers diverse metabolic effects, including lipolysis. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the beneficial and harmful effects of tesamorelin for the treatment of excess VAT, as assessed by waist circumference ≥ 95 cm for males and ≥ 94 cm for females, and confirmed by a VAT level > 130 cm2 by computed tomography (CT) scan, in treatment-experienced adult HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy
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