BONE QUALITY IN A YOUNG COHORT OF HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS.

CONTEXT: In HIV+ patients, several factors related to patient and antiretroviral therapy (ART) could determine early onset of bone mineral density (BMD) disturbances. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of bone quality according to gender in patients from the HIV Romanian cohort. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study in "Prof. Dr. Matei Bals" National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Bucharest between 2016-2018. SUBJECT AND METHODS: We collected data regarding HIV infection, ART history, viral hepatitis co-infections and we calculated patients body mass index (BMI). CD4 cell count, HIV viral load (VL), vitamin-D levels were determined. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were used to evaluate BMD. RESULTS: We enrolled 97 patients with the median age of 26 years. According to the DXA T-scores, 10 males and 8 females had osteopenia and 4 males and 4 females had osteoporosis. According to Z-scores 2 males and 1 female had osteoporosis. Hip DXA T-scores revealed osteopenia in 6 males and 9 females, whereas T and Z-scores showed osteoporosis in 2 males and 3 females. Lumbar spine (LS) T-score diagnosed osteopenia in 9 males and 6 females, while T and Z-scores revealed osteoporosis in 3 males and females. In males, low T-scores were associated with decreased BMI; low LS DXA Z-scores with low vitamin-D levels; low T and Z-scores and LS-BMD with high VL. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating bone quality in patients with a long history of HIV infection, multiple factors should be taken into account.