Use of quantitative ultrasound as bone mineral density evaluation in an Italian female population living with HIV: A real-life experience

ABSTRACT

This is a multicenter cross-sectional study where we aimed to detect the rate of osteopenia/osteoporosis in an HIV female population (WLWHIV) by means of “heel quantitative ultrasound” (QUS) measurement. We enrolled 273 patients, mean age 48.1 years, 36% menopausal, 96% on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Calcaneal measure of bone mass index by QUS revealed osteopenia and osteoporosis in 76 (27.8%) and 16 (5.9%) WLWHIV. Our data underline the correlation between low QUS parameters and traditional risk factors for osteoporosis rather than with cART exposure, thus suggesting the crucial importance of detection and correction of traditional risk factors for osteoporosis in WLWHIV.

KEYWORDS:

• Osteopenia
• osteoporosis
• QUS
• Sahara
• vitamin D
• women living with HIV

Acknowledgments

We thank the Coordinamento Italiano Studio Allergie e Infezione da HIV (CISAI). Coordination: T. Quirino, P. Bonfanti, and E. Ricci. Recruitment sites and investigators: C. Bellacosa and P. Maggi (Bari); L. Calza (Bologna); C. Abeli and B. Menzaghi (Busto Arsizio); B. M. Celesia (Catania); C. Grosso and A. Stagno (Cesena); F. Vichi and F. Mazzotta (Firenze, S. Maria Annunziata); C. Martinelli (Firenze, Careggi); G. Penco and G. Cassola (Genova, Galliera); A. Di Biagio, L. Taramasso, and L.A. Nicolini (Genova, S. Martino); C. Dentone (San Remo); C. Molteni (Lecco); L. Palvarini and A. Scalzini (Mantova); L. Carenzi and G. Rizzardini (Milano, Ospedale Sacco, I Divisione); L. Valsecchi and L. Cordier (Milano, Ospedale Sacco, II Divisione); S. Rusconi, V. Colombo, and M. Galli (Milano, Ospedale Sacco, Clinica Malattie Infettive); M. Franzetti (Padova); G.V. De Socio and A. Sgrelli (Perugia); E. Mazzotta and G. Parruti (Pescara); G. Madeddu, P. Bagella, and M. S. Mura (Sassari); R. Libertone and A. Antinori (Roma, Spallanzani); S. Di Giambenedetto (Roma, Cattolica); G. Orofino, M. Guastavigna, and P. Caramello (Torino).

Notes

Paola Vitiello and Lucia Taramasso equally contributed to the drafting of the article.