Weight Gain in Patients with AIDS-Related Cachexia: Is Bigger Better?
Authors: Daniel G. Haller
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1994)

Editorials15 September 1994Weight Gain in Patients with AIDS-Related Cachexia: Is Bigger Better?Daniel G. Haller, MDDaniel G. Haller, MDUniversity of Pennsylvania Medical Center; Philadelphia, PA 19104Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-121-6-199409150-00011 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail When I was serving recently as the teaching attending in a general medical ward team, the most heated disagreements were about the nutritional support of a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). He had decreased appetite and oral intake leading to a modest loss of body weight in association with other typical complications of AIDS. He was awaiting—no, demanding—placement of a central venous catheter for hyperalimentation. Aware that weight loss was associated with shortened survival in AIDS, he was adamant about delaying his death by increasing his caloric intake. As an oncologist who works with patients with cancer who ...References1. Von Roenn JH, Armstrong D, Kotler DP, Cohn DL, Klimas NG, Tchekmedyian NS, et al. Megestrol acetate in patients with AIDS-related cachexia. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 121:393-9. Google Scholar2. Oster MH, Enders SR, Samuels SJ, Cone LA, Hooton TM, Browder HP, et al. Megestrol acetate in cachectic patients with AIDS. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 121:400-8. Google Scholar3. Haller DG, Glick JG. Progestational agents in advanced breast cancer: an overview. Semin Oncol. 1986; 13:2-8. Google Scholar4. Von Roenn JH, Murphy RL, Weber KM, Williams LM, Weitzman SA. Megestrol acetate for the treatment of cachexia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Ann Intern Med. 1988; 109:840-1. Google Scholar5. Nelson KA, Walsh D, Sheehan FA. The cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome. J Clin Oncol. 1994; 12:213-25. Google Scholar6. Kornblith AB, Hollis DR, Zuckerman E, Lyss AP, Canellos GP, Cooper MR, et al. Effect of megestrol acetate on quality of life in a dose-response trial in women with advanced breast cancer. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B. J Clin Oncol. 1993; 11:2081-9. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Pennsylvania Medical Center; Philadelphia, PA 19104 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoMegestrol Acetate in Patients with AIDS and Cachexia Michelle H. Oster , Sheila R. Enders , Steven J. Samuels , Lawrence A. Cone , Thomas M. Hooton , Henry P. Browder , and Neil M. Flynn Metrics Cited byAdrenal insufficiency and testicular failure secondary to megestrol acetate therapy in a patient with cystic fibrosisDas Verhältnis der wirtschaftlichen Betrachtungsweise und der substance over form zur BetriebswirtschaftslehreMegestrol Acetate: Promises and PitfallsInvoluntary Weight Loss in Elderly Outpatients: Recognition, Etiologies, and TreatmentAIDS wasting syndrome: A persisting problem in the protease-Inhibitor eraNutritional supportEndocrine Implications of Human Immunodeficiency Virus InfectionMegestrol acetate in patients with AIDS-related cachexia J. H. VON ROENN, D. ARMSTRONG, D. P. KOTLER, ET AL Ann Intern Med 121:393-399, 1994 15 September 1994Volume 121, Issue 6Page: 462-463KeywordsAIDSBody weightBreast cancerCancer treatmentPerceptionQuality of lifeQuestionnairesTotal parenteral nutritionWeight gainWeight loss Issue Published: 15 September 1994 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1994 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...