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 Balş" 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.