The risk of negative disorders such as osteoporosis is high in HIV-patients. During a recent study, it was revealed that these patients may benefit from to introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and improved life quality but serious complications such as osteoporosis can happen.
Osteoporosis is a multifactorial ailment characterized by a continuing reduction in terms of body bone mass and its mechanical resistance; increased propensity to fractures of the bones is commonly associated with this complication.
From News-Medical.net:
Now, a study has been published in the Spanish review Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica [Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology] showing the increase in prevalence of this disorder in HIV-1 infected patients.
The principal investigator of the study, José Manuel Olmos, clarifies to SINC that: “As soon as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy was introduced, which we call HAART, this infection was transformed into a chronic disease with an acceptable quality of life in the developed countries”.
There are multiple reasons that explain the propensity to osteoporosis in those patients who have the virus. Some are related to the HIV-1 infection itself, such as the lymphocyte activity, the release of cytokines that stimulate bone absorption, hypogonadism (a disorder where the reproductive organs do not function), Vitamin D deficit, malnutrition or low level of physical activity. Other reasons depend on the treatment patients receive with corticosteroid and antiretroviral medicines.
According to the authors, “for the moment, it does not seem that osteoporotic fractures represent a significant problem. However, as the patient gets older a reduction in their quality of life may occur.
It was remarked by the study authors that a bone densitometry scan is recommended every time data related to hypogonadism, treated with steroids for chronic ailment or a past history of osteoporosis induced fractures with an aim to improve patient’s progress is noted.
