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Bone loss in HIV patients linked to early antiretroviral therapy

Current HIV treatment guidelines suggest initiating antiretroviral treatment to patients at the time of diagnosis.

By Amy Wallace
A new study shows early antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients is linked to increased bone loss compared to deferred antiretrovial treatment. Photo by Taokinesis/PixaBay
A new study shows early antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients is linked to increased bone loss compared to deferred antiretrovial treatment. Photo by Taokinesis/PixaBay

June 26 (UPI) -- A recent study has found a link between early antiretroviral treatment, or ART, with an increased risk of bone loss in patients with HIV infection.

The study, published today in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, showed a negative effect on bone density in patients who received immediate ART compared to those who received deferred ART.

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Current HIV treatment guidelines recommend beginning ART at the time of diagnosis, however, researchers have found that early ART may cause greater bone loss compared to deferred ART.

"What we found was that starting treatment is also associated with accelerated bone loss of about 2 to 4 percent, and the rate of decline then appears to slow after the first two years of treatment, compared with HIV positive people who deferred treatment," Jennifer Hoy, professor and lead author of the study, said in a press release.

Researchers followed 399 participants for an average of 2.2 years, with 195 patients receiving immediate ART and 204 patients receiving deferred ART.

Despite the potential long-term side effect, the researchers caution that the overall benefits of ART in preventing HIV transmission and adverse health outcomes are more important than bone density loss.

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"We have no cure for HIV, so antiretroviral treatment is for life," Hoy said. "An increased rate of bone loss may become important years later, in the setting of increased risk of fragility fracture."

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