Tesamorelin · research summary

The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV.

The Journal of frailty & aging · 2019. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Secondary, exploratory analysis of two previously completed randomized clinical trials
“DesignSecondary, exploratory analysis of two previously completed randomized (2:1), clinical trials.”

Subjects

People living with HIV and with abdominal obesity, restricted to tesamorelin responders or placebo recipients
“ParticipantsPeople living with HIV and with abdominal obesity. Tesamorelin participants were restricted to responders (visceral adipose tissue decrease ≥8%).”

Sample size

193 tesamorelin responders and 148 placebo participants with available images
“Tesamorelin responders (n=193) and placebo (n=148) participants with available images were similar at baseline;”

Duration

26 weeks
“Differences between muscle area and density before and after 26 weeks of tesamorelin or placebo treatment were compared and linear regression models were adjusted for baseline and treatment arm.”

Reported findings

Tesamorelin was associated with significantly greater increases in density of four truncal muscle groups compared to placebo
“In models adjusted for baseline differences and treatment arm, tesamorelin was associated with significantly greater increases in density of four truncal muscle groups (coefficient 1.56-4.86 Hounsfield units; all p<0.005), and the lean anterolateral/abdominal and rectus muscles (1.39 and 1.78 Hounsfield units; both p<0.005) compared to placebo.”
Significant increases were observed in total area of the rectus and psoas muscles
“Significant increases were also seen in total area of the rectus and psoas muscles (0.44 and 0.46 centimeters2; p<0.005), and in the lean muscle area of all four truncal muscle groups (0.64-1.08 centimeters2; p<0.005).”
Among those with clinically significant decrease in visceral adipose tissue, tesamorelin increased skeletal muscle area and density
“Among those with clinically significant decrease in visceral adipose tissue on treatment, tesamorelin was effective in increasing skeletal muscle area and density.”

Limitations stated by the authors

Majority of participants were male, Caucasian, and under 50; analysis restricted to tesamorelin responders; no objective measures of muscle function collected
“Several limitations to our study should be noted: the majority of participants were male, Caucasian, with an average age less than 50, thus may not reflect the global HIV population.”

Source: PubMed 31237318 · DOI 10.14283/jfa.2018.45 · all study summaries

Reported findings

Tesamorelin was associated with significantly greater increases in density of four truncal muscle groups compared to placebo

“In models adjusted for baseline differences and treatment arm, tesamorelin was associated with significantly greater increases in density of four truncal muscle groups (coefficient 1.56-4.86 Hounsfield units; all p<0.005), and the lean anterolateral/abdominal and rectus muscles (1.39 and 1.78 Hounsfield units; both p<0.005) compared to placebo.”

Significant increases were observed in total area of the rectus and psoas muscles

“Significant increases were also seen in total area of the rectus and psoas muscles (0.44 and 0.46 centimeters2; p<0.005), and in the lean muscle area of all four truncal muscle groups (0.64-1.08 centimeters2; p<0.005).”

Among those with clinically significant decrease in visceral adipose tissue, tesamorelin increased skeletal muscle area and density

“Among those with clinically significant decrease in visceral adipose tissue on treatment, tesamorelin was effective in increasing skeletal muscle area and density.”

Limitations stated by the authors

Majority of participants were male, Caucasian, and under 50; analysis restricted to tesamorelin responders; no objective measures of muscle function collected

“Several limitations to our study should be noted: the majority of participants were male, Caucasian, with an average age less than 50, thus may not reflect the global HIV population.”