[Decreased bone mineral density in HIV-infected children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy]

Abstract

Background: In developed countries, the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved survival and quality of life in HIV-infected children. Nevertheless, worrisome metabolic and bone alterations are beginning to be observed.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of alterations in bone mineral density and possible associated factors in a cohort of HIV-infected children receiving HAART.

Patients and methods: Bone dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed in 50 HIV-infected children in a tertiary hospital in Madrid after a median length of HAART of 54 months. Subsequently, the group with bone mineral loss was compared with the group without bone mineral loss.

Results: Forty percent of the children studied had decreased bone mineral density, of which 36 % had osteopenia (18/50) and 4 % had osteoporosis (2/50). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the factors analyzed.

Conclusions: The prevalence of decreased bone mineral density in our cohort of HIV-infected children receiving HAART is high. The etiology and factors associated with this alteration are still not well known.