Body Mass Index to diagnose lipo?

[minismom]

When we were talking to Mini's PID about Mini's  lipoatrophy / distrophy, doc made a comment that she's not ready to do the mitochondrial testing because Mini's BMI is 45%.  All the BMI means is that her height and weight are in proportion.  It doesn't take into account that at 7 1/2, the fattest part of her arm is 6 inches in diameter, she has 2 inch wrists, and has super loose skin where her once chubby cheeks used to be.

 Is the BMI really that useful of a tool to determine lipoatrophy?  My gut feeling is to continue to pushing for Mitochondrial testing with her next blood work on 2/19.  What do you think?

Mum

[Miss Philicia]

All I know is that as long as I've had lipo my BMI has been within acceptable range.  In fact, whatever it's been they're always surprised it's so good... even when I had wasting episodes it still was, though I think the dietician insisted that it was because previous to wasting I worked out a lot and had for years, so somehow I didn't lose all of my muscle mass.

It's now been a good 2-3 years since I last had it checked, but from '99-04 I know I had it checked a good 4 times.

The only "test" I've had done for lipo is visual observation.  Every doctor I have seen in the past 5 years (total of 4) has remarked on the lipo unprompted, as have several specialists in other fields.

[minismom]

Her PID agrees that Mini has "signs" of atrophy (her face, arms, legs, feet, butt).  However, some have told me that lipo issues are actually mitochondrial issues and to be completely accurate, her mitochondria should be tested. We asked her doc about it, since mitochondrial issues can cause a whole plethera of "stuff", and her only answer was that her BMI is good.  Then, she scheduled a DEXA.  My point is that if lipoatrophy, as long as it's not wasting (which for her it isn't) is a pure "cosmetic" thing, then OK.  But, if it is a sign of possible mitochondiral issues, then doc saying that her BMI is good and therefore testing is unnecessary, doesn't cut it for me.

Mum

[hartiepie]

Mum:

BMI has nothing to do with lipodystrophy. Your doc is right about the mitochondrial issue but I can't understand why she would then say anything about BMI. 

Football players' BMI numbers are outside the norm just becasue they have more muscle than a so-called regular person.

[bobino]

Mum,

It is thought that lipo may be caused by damage done to the mitochondria by either HIV and/or antiretroviral medication.  So I would hardly be suprised if Mini's mitochondrial test was abnormal.  Where such a test will lead, though, is probably anybody's guess.  I don't think that the mitochondrial angle has been sufficiently explored in the limited lipo research that's available.  This may be a question to which there is, at present, no answer.

John