The purpose of this study is to see if treatment with testosterone will reduce abdominal fat in HIV-positive men. Many HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy show an increase in abdominal fat. Studies have shown that treatment with testosterone may decrease abdominal fat. This study will determine if testosterone will reduce abdominal fat in HIV patients.
Reports suggest that many HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy experience an increase in abdominal fat. The mechanisms of abdominal fat accumulation in HIV-infected patients are not known. Studies have shown: treatment with testosterone gel reduces total body fat in young, androgen-deficient men; testosterone replacement in middle-aged men with mid-segment obesity decreases visceral fat; and replacement doses of testosterone decrease fat mass and augment lean body mass in HIV-infected men with androgen deficiency. Therefore, there is a strong rationale for evaluating the effectiveness of testosterone replacement in HIV-infected men with visceral obesity and low testosterone levels. Patients are stratified based on their viral load. Patients receive either testosterone gel or placebo applied to the skin once daily for 24 weeks. Patients remain on their current antiretroviral regimens, which are not supplied through the study. Patients who receive testosterone during the first 24 weeks are eligible to receive it for an additional 24 weeks. Patients on placebo are followed for an additional 24 weeks. Clinical and laboratory evaluations for visceral fat changes are performed throughout the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
86
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
USC CRS
Los Angeles, California, United States
Charles R. Drew Univ. of Medicine and Science, Div. of Infectious Diseases
Los Angeles, California, United States
Stanford CRS
Palo Alto, California, United States
Ucsd, Avrc Crs
San Diego, California, United States
Ucsf Aids Crs
San Francisco, California, United States
Santa Clara Valley Med. Ctr.
San Jose, California, United States
San Mateo County AIDS Program
San Mateo, California, United States
Marin County Dept. of Health & Human Services, HIV/AIDS Program & Specialty Clinic
San Rafael, California, United States
University of Colorado Hospital CRS
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Queens Med. Ctr.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
...and 17 more locations