The Use of Nutropin Depot in HIV-Infected Adult Males

• 1) body weight
  
• 2) lean tissue mass (LTM).
  

• 1) whole body protein turnover (WBPT)
  
• 2) gluconeogenesis
  
• 3) bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover
  
• 4) fat distribution (lipoatrophy)
  
• 5) thymus size
  
• 6) T-cell subsets
  
• 7) TNF-µ level
  

Patients will be recruited from the HIV clinics at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and the Veterans Administration Hospital by direct invitation from Dr. Margolis (adult HIV clinic director and University director for the NIH-ACTG). We will recruit 20 HIV-infected adult males who have been treated with stable protease inhibitor therapy regimen for the past 6 months. One half of the subjects will have evidence of lipoatrophy (as defined by the ACTG29). Each subject will have baseline (BL) measures made, and then will start on GH depot or subcutaneous AQ. Patients will be followed every two weeks for the first six weeks, then every three months for the remainder of the study. Study parameters to be measured include (also see flow chart in appendix):

• Baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months: OGTT, testosterone level, whole body protein turnover, hepatic glucose production and gluconeogenesis measures, DXA scan (for measuring lean tissue mass and bone density), bone mineral markers, resting energy expenditure, calorie count, T cell subsets, TNF µ levels.
• Every 3 months: IGF-1 (will obtain every 2 weeks for first 6 weeks), body weight, and post-prandial glucose level.
• Baseline, 6 and 12 months- CT scan for measurement of thymus size