Osteonecrosis in patients infected with HIV: clinical epidemiology and natural history in a large case series from Spain.

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of data on clinical epidemiology of osteonecrosis in HIV-infected patients. We aimed to describe patients' characteristics and natural history of this poorly known condition.

METHODS

All cases of symptomatic HIV-related osteonecrosis diagnosed from 1990 through 2003 in 19 Spanish clinics were reviewed. Functional status at the last visit was assessed with the validated Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of 54 patients analyzed, 29 (53.7%) had a single bone necrosis, and 25 (46.3%) had 2 or more sites involved. Progression of symptoms happened more often in patients with hip involvement (17/39 vs 0/8 patients; P = 0.019). Twenty patients (37%) required surgical intervention. Male sex and higher CD4 cell count were associated with surgery on multivariable analysis. Overall, at the end of the follow-up period, half of the patients had moderate to severe disability (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index score > or =60). During a follow-up period of 137 person-years, only 2 new episodes of osteonecrosis were observed (rate of recurrences, 1.5/100 person-years; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-5.1).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-related osteonecrosis is associated with significant disability over time. Location of bone necrosis, sex, and CD4 cell count may influence the outcome. The risk for recurrences for patients who have experienced 1 episode is low.