Oh, Dem Bones!

Despite having the same bone mineral density as their age-matched HIV-negative peers, HIV-positive women are more likely to break or crack a bone, according to a review of the medical records of more than 500 Canadian women. About 26% of the women HIVers experienced a 'fragility fracture''a broken bone caused by a fall from standing height or less'compared to 17% of HIV-negative women, the researchers report in Osteoporosis International. They theorize that HIV infection may have a detrimental effect on bone health that does not show up on standard measuring tools.