Association of osteonecrosis and osteoporosis in HIV-1-infected patients.

Background: We questioned whether heightened impairment of regenerative capacity of osteoblasts might account for the excess of osteonecrosis and osteoporosis seen in HIV-infected patients. Were that the case, patients with osteonecrosis would have more osteoporosis than the patients without osteonecrosis.

Methods: Eleven thousand, five hundred and six patients with HIV infection were studied for the presence of osteonecrosis and osteoporosis and for confounding factors.