Megestrol Acetate and Cachexia Associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

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To the Editor: Dr. Von Roenn and her colleagues (1) suggest that megestrol acetate is an effective treatment for the cachexia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. All fourteen of their patients were reported to gain at least 0.5 kg/wk. Although this is an interesting observation, there are a few additional points clinicians need to consider when evaluating patients for this therapy.

It is important to define "cachexia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection." First, the authors apparently differentiate the "cachexia associated with HIV infection" from the HIV wasting syndrome as the treated patients were not reported to