Not So Funny Bones

Reduced bone mineral density is incredibly common among HIVers; thus, doctors should conduct bone density tests on their HIV-positive patients, French researchers say in the journal AIDS. Their review of nearly 500 HIV-positive adults showed bone abnormalities in 80.5% of the study subjects'53.7% experienced osteopenia (low bone density) and 26.8% had symptoms of osteoporosis (porous bones). While older HIVers were more prone to the conditions'as is the case with HIV-negative adults'even young study subjects had high rates of bone problems, according to the study, making early screening increasingly important.