ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome should be complete and based on controlling the disease and the complications related to the use of antiretroviral medications, such as lipodystrophy. This study aimed to evaluate the main complaints, epidemiological aspects, and surgical procedures performed for lipodystrophy correction among patients receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy.
Method:
In this retrospective study, data were collected from the medical records of 27 patients who underwent 36 surgical procedures associated with lipodystrophy correction, from March 2010 to June 2014, at the Plastic Surgery Service of the Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto.
Results:
The average age of the patients was 47.2 years; 22.2% were men and 77.8% were women. The average duration of antiretroviral therapy (HAAR) was 12.1 years. The most frequent complaints were dorsal hump (44.4%), abdominal lipodystrophy (44.4%), and gluteal lipoatrophy (37.04%). The majority of patients (70.4%) had undergone surgery. The most common type of surgery performed was hump liposuction (carried out in 48.1% of the patients), followed by abdominal, back, or flank liposuction (44.4%) and gluteoplasty (22.2%). Among all 36 procedures performed, only 2 resulted in complications. The average postoperative follow-up period was 11.2 months. In total, 70.4% of patients were satisfied with the results of their procedure.
Conclusions:
The success of surgical treatment of HAAR-induced lipodystrophy is based on proper preoperative selection as well as constant and prolonged follow-up. Improved selfesteem facilitates the adherence to antiretroviral drug treatment.
Keywords:
Lipodystrophy; Antiretroviral therapy; Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Liposuction; Reconstructive surgical procedures