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

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.