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Researchers at the University of
Toronto investigated complications associated with the use of polyalkylimide
filler in patients with HIV-related facial lipoatrophy or facial wasting—a side
effect of HIV treatment with certain drugs.
The filler was manufactured under
the name Bio-Alcamid and was widely used to treat a variety of aesthetic
defects including facial lipoatrophy. The researchers were aware that patients
presented with infections years after treatment. They retrospectively
identified 267 patients who had been treated with polyalkylimide filler.
Infection complications were documented in 56 patients. The median time from
treatment to infection was 32 months, and the probability of developing an
infection by 38 months after the first filler treatment was 25 percent. Risk
factors for infection included the severity of facial lipoatrophy, a previous
history of facial manipulation including polyalkylimide touch-up treatments,
cosmetic surgery, facial trauma, and dental work.
The researchers did not find any
association between the development of infection and the level of immune
suppression by HIV. They suggest antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered in
patients with filler prior to dental work or facial manipulation.
The study titled, “HIV/AIDS: Infectious
Complications of Bio-Alcamid Filler Used for HIV-Related Facial Lipoatrophy,”
was published prior to print by the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases
[August 31, 2012 doi:10.1093/cid/cis745].
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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