S. Bhasin et M. Javanbakht, Can androgen therapy replete lean body mass and improve muscle function inwasting associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection?, J PARENT EN, 23(6), 1999, pp. S195-S201
A significant number of men who are infected with the human immunodeficienc
y virus (HIV) have low testosterone levels. Androgen deficiency in HIV-infe
cted patients is associated with decreased muscle mass and function, and ad
verse disease outcome. Administration of replacement doses of testosterone
to healthy hypogonadal men augments lean body mass, muscle size, and maxima
l voluntary strength. Recent studies have shown that physiologic testostero
ne replacement in HIV-infected men with weight loss who have low testostero
ne levels can also increase muscle mass and effort-dependent strength. Howe
ver, further studies are needed to determine whether androgen therapy can i
mprove physical function and health-related outcomes in HIV-infected men.