See also: Arthritis and HIV

General Information

• HIV and Osteoporosis (AIDSinfo) and Spanish version
• Bone health and HIV disease (Project Inform)
• Osteoporosis (AIDS InfoNet) and Spanish version
• Osteonecrosis (AIDS InfoNet) and Spanish version
• Bone problems & HIV/AIDS – web page from TheBody with links to many fact sheets and articles
• Osteonecrosis – web page from MedlinePlus with basic information and links to other resources
• Osteoporosis – web page from MedlinePlus with basic information and links to other resources

Selected Recent Articles

• Is Bone Density Loss on PrEP Higher Than Previously Believed?  (September 2016, Poz)
• PrEP Use May Stunt Bone Growth in Young Men.  (September 2016, Poz)
• Osteoporosis and Smoking Raise Fracture Risk in People with HIV.  (September 2016, HIV Treatment Alerts/TheBodyPro)
• Kidney and Bone Markers Improve in Patients With Renal Impairment After Switch from TDF to TAF.  (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Bone Density Decreases More for Individuals Living With HIV in U.S. Study.  (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Bone loss partially recovers after stopping PrEP, twice-yearly kidney monitoring is enough for most.  (July 2016, AIDSmap)
• Switch From TDF to TAF Tied to Better Bone Mineral Density and Bone Markers.  (July 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Switching from tenofovir DF to TAF improves bone and kidney safety.  (July 2016, AIDSmap)
• No effect of tenofovir on infant bone mineral content in African study.  (June 2016, HIV Treatment Bulletin)
• Bone Loss in First Months of HIV Treatment Linked to Immune Reconstitution.  (May 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Is There a Simple Solution to HIV Medication-Associated Bone Loss?  (April 2016, Poz)
• Tenofovir alafenamide works well against hepatitis B with less effect on bones and kidneys.  (April 2016, AIDSmap)
• Switching to regimen with new form of tenofovir (TAF) improves kidney and bone health markers.  (April 2016, Project Inform)
• Low Bone Density Tied to Incident Fracture in Two U.S. HIV Cohorts.  (March 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Does Hep C Exposure Raise the Risk of Kidney Disease and Osteoporosis in People With HIV?  (March 2016, Poz)
• Maternal use of Viread comparable to zidovudine regarding infant BMC.  (February 2016, Healio); abstract from 2016 Retrovirus Conference
• NIH-funded study finds effect of PrEP on bone density is reversible.  (February 2016, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases); related coverage from AIDSmap, BETA Blog, Healio, and Poz
• Switching to emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (F/TAF) maintains viral suppression with better bone and kidney safety.  (February 2016, TheBody); related coverage from AIDSmap
• Tenofovir treatment raises the risk of broken bones. (February 2016, AIDSmap)
• High Rate and Progression of Low Bone Mineral Density in U.S. HIV Group.  (February 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Starting HIV Treatment Earlier Translates to More Bone Loss.  (November 2015, Poz)
• Does Truvada as PrEP Stunt Bone Growth in Young Men?  (October 2015, Poz)
• START sub-study shows more bone loss with earlier HIV treatment.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Tenofovir alafenamide single-tablet regimen shows good efficacy with improved kidney and bone safety.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Lower bone mass in infancy linked to HIV medication.  (October 2015, Healio)
• Bone Density Drops About 1% in HIV-Negative MSM and Transgender Women on PrEP.  (September 2015, TheBodyPro)
• HIV Increases Bone Fracture Risk by 32% in Middle-Aged U.S. Women.  (September 2015, TheBodyPro)
• Single-Tablet HIV Regimen Containing Tenofovir Alafenamide Improves Bone and Kidney Safety.  (September 2015, TheBodyPro)
• Bone loss slows, but continues long-term in HIV-positive people on antiretroviral therapy.  (September 2015, AIDSmap)
• Daily PrEP lowers hip, spine BMD in HIV-seronegative patients.  (August 2015, Healio)
• Updated Tenofovir Is Safer for Bones and Kidneys.  (July 2015, Poz)
• Switching to new tenofovir alafenamide keeps virus in check and improves kidney and bone health.  (July 2015, AIDSmap)
• Isentress causes less bone density loss than PIs.  (May 2015, Healio)
• Truvada PrEP causes only mild loss of bone mineral density.  (May 2015, AIDSmap)
• Joint Pain Flares Among People With HIV, Hepatitis C or Both.  (May 2015, Hepmag)
• Truvada as PrEP Leads to Small Initial Decrease in Bone Density.  (April 2015, Poz)
• FRAX fracture prediction tool underestimates fracture risk in people with HIV.  (March 2015, AIDSmap)
• New form of tenofovir TAF looks to be easier on bone and kidney health to the current TDF.  (March 2015, Project Inform)
• Tenofovir alafenamide equally effective but safer for kidneys and bones than current formulation.  (February 2015, AIDSmap)
• New Guidelines for Bone Care Among People With HIV.  (February 2015, Poz)
• Screening for bone fracture risk should be routine for over-40s with HIV, new guidelines recommend.  (February 2015, AIDSmap)
• Significantly Less BMD Loss With HIV Therapy That Doesn’t Contain Tenofovir/Emtricitabine.  (October 2014, TheBodyPro)
• Preventing and Treating HIV-Associated Bone Disease.  (October 2014, TheBodyPro)
• HIV/HCV-Coinfected Individuals at Greater Risk of Osteoporosis and Fractures.  (August 2014, TheBodyPro)
• Bone mineral density linked to inflammatory markers in HIV positive people who are ART naïve.  (August 2014, HIV i-Base)
• People With Both HIV & Hep C Have Raised Risk of Bone Loss.  (July 2014, Poz)
• HIV/HCV co-infection associated with increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures.  (July 2014, AIDSmap)
• Viread During Pregnancy Lowers Babies Bone Density.  (March 2014, Poz)
• Spleen and Bone Marrow May Be Key Players in Arterial Inflammation with HIV. (March 2014, NATAP)
• Vitamin D/Calcium Supplements Reduce Bone Loss by 50% When Starting EFV/TDF/FTC. (March 2014, NATAP)
• Calcium and High-Dose Vitamin D Supplements Cut Bone Loss by Half. (March 2014, Beta Blog)
• HIV Drug Linked to Low Bone Density in Babies. (March 2014, MedPage Today)
• Newborns Exposed to TDF in Utero Have Lower Bone Mineral Content in U.S.  (March 2014, NATAP)
• Testosterone Falls No More With Than Without HIV Over 6 Years in MACS. (March 2014, NATAP)
• HIV increases fracture risk, say Danes.  (February 2014, AIDSmap)
• No brittle bones.  (Winter 2014, Positively Aware)
• High prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in young men with HIV.  (October 2013, AIDSmap)
• HIV-positive people not on antiretrovirals are prone to inflammation-related bone loss.  (October 2013, AIDSmap)
• New Tenofovir Has Lower Dose, Is Kinder to Kidneys and Bones.  (September 2013, Poz)
• New tenofovir formulation works equally well with less effect on kidneys and bones.  (September 2013, AIDSmap)
• Low baseline CD4 cell count associated with greater bone loss after starting HIV therapy.  (August 2013, AIDSmap)
• Number of HIV Regimens Linked to Lower Bone Mineral Density.  (July 2013, Poz)
• Studies look at bone changes during second-line therapy, fractures, and HIV- and HCV-related bone loss.  (July 2013, AIDSmap)
• Lower Baseline CD4 is Associated with Greater Loss of Bone Mineral Density after ART Initiation.  (March 2013, NATAP)
• New Tenofovir Prodrug Shows Potency, Plus Better Kidney and Bone Safety Than Current Formulation.  (March 2013, TheBodyPro)
• Peak Bone Mass Lower in Young HIV+ vs HIV- Men–and Bone Structure Abnormal.  (March 2013, NATAP)
• New tenofovir prodrug virologically equivalent to TDF – and easier on kidneys and bone.  (March 2013, NATAP)
• Frailty increases the risk of fragility fractures in men living with HIV: data collected in routine HIV care can help predict risk.  (February 2013, AIDSmap)
• Co-infection with hepatitis B or C is a risk factor for reduced bone mineral density among women with HIV.  (January 2013, AIDSmap)