[Megestrol in the treatment of AIDS associated cachexia. Evaluation by bioelectric impedance analysis of body composition].

OBJECTIVE

To value the effects of megestrol acetate wer the weight and the body composition (fat, lean and body water) in patients with AIDS associated cachexia, by bioelectric impedance analysis.

SUBJECTS: 25 patients between 23 and 57 years of age, with confirmed HIV infection and prior weight lost of 7.96 +/- 4.6 kg in relation to their habitual weight in the previous months. All the patients were under antiretroviral therapy.

METHOD: Basal determination, before the beginning of the antianorexic treatment and at the end of it, using bioelectric impedance analysis by Maltron BF 905 analyzer, calculating fat, lean and total body water in relation to weight, height, age and sex. Oral administration of 320 mg/day megestrol acetate for three consecutive months. Statistical comparation (RSIGMA and SPSS) by paired t-test of the mean weight, body mass index, fat, lean and total body water.

RESULTS

During the three months treatment the mean basal body weight of the patients increased 3.54 Kg (p < 0.001) at the expense of an increase of 2.24 kg in the total body lean (p < 0.01), while the increment of the body fat (1.2 kg) was not statistically significant. The total body water increased 1.48 L (p < 0.001) and the body mass index in 1.22 kg/m2 (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with megestrol acetate results in a substained and very significant increase of the weight and body mass index in patients with AIDS related cachexia. This increment in weight is at the expense of body lean.