Hypovitaminosis D in HIV-infected Patients

Abstract

Introduction Vitamin D (VD) deficiency is highly prevalent among HIV-infected patients and has been associated with a worse disease prognosis. Aim To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in a cohort of HIV-positive Romanian patients compared to healthy controls Methods Plasma samples for the determination of serum 25OHD concentration were collected from HIV-infected patients and healthy controls. 25OHD status was defined as: deficiency 30 ng/mL. Clinical and laboratory parameters were retrospectively extracted from patients'files (CD4+ cell count, CD4+ nadir, HBV/HCV co-infection, ART). Results We evaluated 118 HIV-positive patients, (72 males, 46 females, aged 36.9±12.2 years). 106 patients (98.14 %) were on complex ART regimens. 9.3% had B/C hepatitis coinfection. We also 119 healthy controls matched by age, sex and menopausal status. The mean serum 25OHD concentration in the HIV-positive patients was significantly lower (19.36 ±11.34 ng/ml) compared to controls (23.74±8.32 ng/ml; p=0.001). Normal VD status was determined in only 15.96% of patients and 12.71% of controls. Severe VD deficiency was found in a higher percentage of HIV positive patients (23.52%) compared to controls (4.2%, p=0.001). The serum 25OHD level in patients was not significantly correlated with gender, age, menopausal status in women, number of years of previous ART treatment or nadir CD 4 positive cell-count. Conclusions Low levels of 25OHD are present in a significantly higher percentage in HIV-positive patients compared to healthy controls. The serum 25OHD concentration was not correlated with any particularities of the treatment regimen or disease characteristics in our sample. Clinical guidelines related to the VD status in HIV-positive patients are needed.