Diabetic Retinopathy in HIV Subjects Treated With EGRIFTA®

This is a study required by the FDA to determine if Egrifta use in HIV+ people with diabetes can increase the risks of diabetic retinopathy.


http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01591902

Diabetic retinopathy  is a complication of diabetes that affects the eyes. It's caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina).

At first, diabetic retinopathy may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems. Eventually, however, diabetic retinopathy can result in blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy can develop in anyone who has type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. The longer someone has diabetes, and the less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy.

To protect their vision, patients with diabetes should take prevention seriously. Patients should carefully controlling their blood sugar level and scheduling yearly eye exams.

Previous studies have show that the use of growth hormone contributes to the development of diabetic retinopathy in humans. (http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/17/6/531 )

Egrifta is a growth hormone releasing hormone, hence the concern from the FDA.

EGRIFTA® is an FDA-approved treatment for the reduction of excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy.


More information on Egrifta on Egrifta.com