[Correction of facial lipoatrophy with a biodegradable material in HIV-infected patients].

INTRODUCTION

Facial lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients under tri-therapy occurs frequently and alters their quality of life. No systemic treatment is capable of curing this problem.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Eighty-one patients were included in an open, prospective, compassionate study. A strict intradermal injection of a biodegradable, polyacrylamide cationic copolymer was administered in several sessions.

RESULTS

In all the patients, the correction of the facial lipoatrophy was considered satisfactory and stable over a period of 6 months using comparative photographic clichés. The thickness of the dermal skin, assessed by sonography, was doubled. No local or systemic side effect was reported.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that is it possible to durably correct the facial lipoatrophy of HIV-infected patients under tri-therapy by using a biodegradable implant.