Polylactic acid vs. polyacrylamide hydrogel for treatment of facial lipoatrophy: a randomized controlled trial [Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les Hépatites Virales (ANRS) 132 SMILE].

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the noninferiority of polyacrylamide hydrogel (PH) vs. polylactic acid (PLA) for the treatment of facial lipoatrophy in HIV-infected adults. METHODS: A randomized, blinded, multicentre, noninferiority 96-week study was carried out. Patients with facial lipoatrophy were randomly assigned to receive intradermal injections with PH or PLA, and were blinded to the filler. The primary efficacy endpoint was patient satisfaction at week 48 assessed using a visual analogue scale score (VAS). Secondary efficacy end-points included cheek thickness and skin-fold, lipoatrophy grading and quality of life. Safety was assessed by the reporting of adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 148 patients were included in the study; 93% were men, the median age was 47 years, the median CD4 count was 528 cells/µL, and the median duration of antiretroviral therapy was 12 years. Mean VAS increased from 2.8 at baseline to 7.1 and 7.5 in the PLA and PH arms, respectively, at week 48 (P=0.0002 for noninferiority) and was sustained at week 96 (6.7 and 7.9 in the PLA and PH arms, respectively; P=0.003 for noninferiority). Cheek thickness and skin-fold increases and lipoatrophy improvement were similar in the two arms. Quality of life remained unchanged or improved depending on the questionnaire used. In injected patients, subcutaneous nodules emerged in 28 (41%) and 26 (37%) patients in the PLA and PH arms, respectively (P=0.73). Four patients in the PH arm developed severe inflammatory nodules, a median of 17 months after the last injection. CONCLUSIONS: PH and PLA have similar efficacies in the treatment of facial lipoatrophy, but PH may be associated with more delayed inflammatory nodules.

Tips & tricks for transoral approach for submandibular lithiasis (TASL).

INTRODUCTION: Sialolithiases mainly affect the submandibular gland. More often, the lithiasis is large and located at the junction of the middle and the posterior third of the duct, in the hilum region. In such situation, transoral approach is recommended to avoid sialadenectomy because of its lower morbidity. TIPS AND TRICKS: Because of our experience, with over 300 cases operated with this transoral approach, we have decided to describe the tips and tricks that can help the surgeon who operates large stones impacted in the hilum of the submandibulary gland. DISCUSSION: The benefits of these tips and tricks are exposed. CONCLUSION: These keypoints can help to overcome intraoperative issues and save time.

[Correction of facial lipoatrophy with a biodegradable material in HIV-infected patients]. / Correction par produit biodégradable des lipoatrophies faciales des malades infectés par le VIH.

INTRODUCTION: Facial lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients under tri-therapy occurs frequently and alters their quality of life. No systemic treatment is capable of curing this problem. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-one patients were included in an open, prospective, compassionate study. A strict intradermal injection of a biodegradable, polyacrylamide cationic copolymer was administered in several sessions. RESULTS: In all the patients, the correction of the facial lipoatrophy was considered satisfactory and stable over a period of 6 months using comparative photographic clichés. The thickness of the dermal skin, assessed by sonography, was doubled. No local or systemic side effect was reported. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that is it possible to durably correct the facial lipoatrophy of HIV-infected patients under tri-therapy by using a biodegradable implant.

Multiple eruptive dermatofibromas in a patient with HIV infection: case report and literature review.

Multiple eruptive dermatofibromas have been reported in the setting of autoimmune diseases treated with immunosuppressive drugs and more recently in the course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report herein the ninth case of multiple eruptive dermato fibromas associated with HIV infection. The relevant literature is reviewed and the differences of these lesions from "ordinary" dermatofibromas are discussed.