AIDS: Lipodystrophy is one of the most common and distressing side effects associated with combination therapy. Some aspects of the phenomenon were reported several years ago, but the frequency of reports has greatly increased with the introduction of protease inhibitors in 1996. Lipodystrophy is a redistribution of fat, and the cause of the change is uncertain. It is not known if it is a signal of disease progression, or a result of anti-HIV therapy. A report on three separate cases conveys success in treating lipodystrophy associated with the use of protease inhibitors. All cases switched people from protease inhibitors to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI), however 10 percent of the group had increases in HIV levels. Serostim, a human growth hormone, has also had some effect in reducing central obesity and buffalo hump, but does not seem to be effective on facial and limb wasting or on decreasing lipid levels. To date, most studies on lipodystropy have been driven by AIDS activists, with pharmaceutical companies and the research community being slow to follow. There is very little information on treating this syndrome, and it is unclear how widespread its effects are. Reports on incidence levels range from 15 percent to 75 percent.