Body wasting is an increasingly frequent AIDS-defining condition and it is becoming evident that women are not exempt from this complication of HIV. Although multicenter trials of megestrol acetate, dronabinol and growth hormone have not specifically excluded women, women have generally been underrepresented in these trials. This study hopes to generate data that will be substantial enough to perform an analysis that might determine whether there are gender-based differences in anabolic potential.
Patients will be randomized to receive either nandrolone decanoate or placebo every 2 weeks for 12 weeks of the study. All patients who complete the first 12 weeks of the study will be eligible to receive open-label nandrolone for the subsequent 12 weeks.
