Vitamin D and calcium abnormalities in the HIV-infected population

Negative Lifestyle Factors Specific to Aging Persons Living with HIV and Multimorbidity

The primary goal of medical care during the pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) era was to keep persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) alive, whereas since the advent of ART, the treatment objective has shifted to decreasing viral loads and infectiousness while increasing CD4+ T-cell counts and longevity. The health crisis, however, is in preventing and managing multimorbidity (ie, type 2 diabetes), which develops at a more accelerated or accentuated pace among aging persons living with HIV. Relative to the general population and age-matched uninfected adults, it may be more difficult for aging HIV-positive persons who also suffer from multimorbidity to improve negative lifestyle factors to the extent that their behaviors could support the prevention and management of diseases. With recommendations and a viable solution, this article explores the impact of negative lifestyle factors (ie, poor mental health, suboptimal nutrition, physical inactivity, alcohol use) on the health of aging individuals living with HIV.

How far is vitamin D implicated in cutaneous infections

Vitamin D is an important cornerstone in the immunologic cascade of many skin infections, systemic infections with cutaneous presentations, and other infectious dermatologic diseases where infections could be a culprit. Vitamin D supplementation is proposed as a protective measure against their occurrence and exacerbation, especially with the emergence of several viral pandemics in recent years. Vitamin D plays a key role in the maintenance of a balanced immunologic profile which could be reflected by a lowered incidence and morbidity of infections. Vitamin D screening and supplementation in patients with deficiencies or insufficiencies should be a part of the dermatologic approach to patients with these diseases.

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations from Patient Groups at High Risk for Deficiency

BACKGROUND

Deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum is endemic in the general population, and testing for this hormone is useful in accessing a patient's overall health and well-being.

METHODS

We obtained blood from 216 hospitalized patients and outpatients divided into 4 groups thought to be at high risk of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency: homeless, recreational drug abusers, psychiatric patients with limited access to the outdoors, and those infected with HIV. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations from these patients were determined with 2 different methodologies (immunoassay and mass spectrometry) and compared against 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in apparently healthy controls. We hypothesized that these groups may be at higher risk for vitamin D deficiency because of poor nutrition, inadequate housing, restricted access to outdoors, or the presence of chronic disease.

RESULTS

For each of the patient groups including healthy controls, the median concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was below 30 ng/mL, indicating deficiency. Comparisons between the healthy controls and the other groups were not statistically significant with either methodology, except for the homeless patients in whom a higher number of individuals had 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations below 20 ng/mL. Results between the 2 testing platforms demonstrated that only 52% of the specimens analyzed by immunoassay agreed within ±10% of the LC-MS/MS results, with an overall correlation coefficient to 0.920. The degree of concordance for deficiency with 2 published cutoffs of 20 and 30 ng/mL was 91% and 91%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency is a common finding in all the populations studied. The Lumipulse^® G vitamin D immunoassay is an alternative for detecting vitamin D deficiency.

Continued Interest and Controversy: Vitamin D in HIV

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency is highly prevalent among HIV-infected individuals. Given the overlapping risk for several chronic disease and immunomodulatory outcomes from both long-standing HIV and VitD deficiency, there is great interest in clarifying the clinical role of VitD for this population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have expanded our knowledge regarding the epidemiology and mechanisms of VitD deficiency-associated outcomes in the setting of HIV. Clinical trials focusing on VitD supplementation have demonstrated a positive impact on bone mineral density in subgroups of HIV-infected individuals initiating ART or on suppressive ART regimens; however, significant heterogeneity exists between studies and data are less consistent with other clinical outcomes. Further research is needed to clarify uncertainly in several domains, including identifying patients at greatest risk for poor outcomes from VitD deficiency, standardizing definitions and measurement techniques, and better quantifying the benefits and risks of VitD supplementation across different demographic strata for skeletal and extra-skeletal outcomes.

Vitamin D and Bone Mineral Density in HIV Newly Diagnosed Therapy-Naive Patients Without Any Secondary Causes of Osteoporosis

Bone loss and vitamin D deficiency are common in HIV patients. However, bone health status in newly diagnosed HIV patients has not been thoroughly described. Our aim was to assess the bone mineral density (BMD), bone resorption and vitamin D status in newly diagnosed HIV patients. A prospective observational study in HIV newly diagnosed therapy-naive persons. Patients with secondary causes of osteoporosis were excluded. Bone densitometry (DXA), a bone resorption marker (CTx), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), CD4 count and HIV viral load (VL) were done in 70 patients. Vitamin D results were compared with a group of healthy volunteers. All patients were men, mean age 31 years (19-50). Low BMD (Z score ≤ 2.0) was found in 13%, all of them in lumbar spine, and in only one patient also in femoral neck. Bone resorption was high in 16%. One out of four participants had low BMD or high bone resorption. Vitamin D deficiency (25OHD < 20 ng/mL) was found in 66%. Mean 25OHD in patients was significantly lower than in healthy volunteers (p = 0.04). No associations were found between BMD, CTx, 25OHD and VL or CD4 count. We hypothesize that HIV infection negatively affects bone health based on the results we found among newly diagnosed, therapy-naive, HIV-infected patients, without any known secondary causes of osteoporosis. Low BMD or high bone resorption, are significantly prevalent in these patients. HIV-infected patients had a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency than controls, which was not correlated with CD4 count or VL.

Prevalence of low bone mass and changes in vitamin D levels in human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults unexposed to antiretrovirals

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of low bone mass is 3 times higher in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) and using antiretrovirals than in the HIV-unaffected population. Changes in vitamin D levels is one of the factors associated with decreased bone mass. The objective of this study is to evaluate the low bone mass and altered vitamin D levels in PLWH who have not been exposed to antiretrovirals.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out with HIV-infected individuals between the ages of 18 and 55 years immediately prior to the start of antiretroviral therapy in a specialized reference center focusing on infectious and parasitic diseases. Results of clinical examination (patient's weight, height, blood pressure, and clinical history), laboratory tests, and X-ray absorptiometry, were collected.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were included, with a mean age of 34 years. Nine (16.7%) patients presented with low bone mass and 4 (7.1%) patients showed low total femur BMD. Analysis revealed that 23.3% and 36.7% of the patients had deficient and insufficient levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study population presented with compromised bone health and with low bone mineral density and 25-(OH)-vitamin D levels.

Ageing with HIV: a multidisciplinary review

INTRODUCTION

After the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment, the course of HIV infection turned into a chronic disease and most of HIV-positive patients will soon be over 50 years old.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This paper reviews the multiple aspects that physicians have to face while taking care of HIV-positive ageing patients including the definitions of frailty and the prevalence and risk factors of concomitant diseases. From a therapeutic point of view pharmacokinetic changes and antiretroviral-specific toxicities associated with ageing are discussed; finally therapeutic approaches to frailty are reviewed both in HIV-positive and negative patients.

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

We conclude by suggesting that the combined use of drugs with the least toxicity potential and the promotion of healthy behaviours (including appropriate nutrition and exercise) might be the best practice for ageing HIV-positive subjects.