Long-term
Safety and Efficacy
of Poly-L-lactic
Acid in the
treatment of
HIV-related
Facial Lipoatrophy
There
is currently
no known effective
treatment for
HIV-related
facial lipoatrophy,
a condition
that may result
in a significant
decrease in
the quality
of life
of affected
patients. However,
there is now
an FDA-approved
cosmetic intervention-injections
with Poly-L-lactic
acid (PLLA)
[Sculptra]-that
both doctors
and patients
report as being
safe and effective
and yielding
beneficial cosmetic
results in almost
all cases.
In
the current
study, conducted
at Chelsea and
Westminster
Hospital in
London, UK,
researchers
evaluated the
long-term safety
and efficacy
of injectible
PLLA for the
correction of
facial lipoatrophy.
This
was a randomized,
open-label,
comparative,
single-centre
study of injected
PLLA in patients
with HIV-related
facial lipoatrophy.
Thirty
subjects were
randomized to
immediate or
delayed PLLA
treatments,
administered
as three sets
of bilateral
injections,
2 weeks apart,
into the deep
dermis above
the buccal fat
pad. Week 24
results have
been published
previously (Moyle
et al, HIV Medicine
2004, Vol. 5,
pp. 82-87).
Long-term
efficacy was
assessed at
a recall visit
using visual
analogue scales
(VASs) to record
patient satisfaction,
and by the Hospital
Anxiety and
Depression Scale
(HADS). Patients
also reported
any adverse
events (AEs)
during the treatment
period and at
the recall visit.
Twenty-seven
patients returned
for the recall
visit, a minimum
of 18 months
post final study
treatment.
Results
Improvements
in VAS scores
for facial appearance
were sustained
from baseline
to the recall
visit in both
randomization
groups (P<0.05
and P<0.001).
