INTRODUCTION: HIV-infected patients show osteoporosis or densitometric osteopenia at a rate of 28-50%. The objective of this study is to check the changes on reabsorption/ development rates on these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was carried out with meta-analysis of controlled studies assessing the correlation between osteopenia and/ or bone metabolism changes with HIV infection. All studies including osteocalcin or NTX with corresponding markers of bone development and reabsorption were included. Five studies were classified as class-III evidence, and involved 456 HIV-positive individuals and 590 controls. NTX had a significant increase (p < 0.00014) on the HIV-positive group, while osteocalcin has shown to be unchanged. CONCLUSION: This study allows us to conclude that, during HIV infection, the NTX marker is significantly high, reflecting a high reabsorptive activity on the bone tissue. This suggests an important role on osteoclastic activity in bone loss for HIV-positive patients.
HIV; Bone diseases, metabolic; Bone resorption
