HIV infection and bone loss due to periodontal disease.
BACKGROUND
The goal of this study is to determine whether HIV infection or high-risk behaviors associated with HIV infection are related to alveolar bone loss in a sample of subjects screened at a dental school clinic.


METHODS
Subjects were included in this study (N = 355) if they were HIV positive or had high-risk behaviors associated with HIV infection as identified by health risk behavior screening questionnaire. Bone loss measurements were obtained from radiographs. Both bivariate relationships and multivariate relationships between alveolar bone loss and three sets of variables were evaluated: high-risk behavior questions, demographic variables, and HIV infection.


RESULTS
The following variables were found related to alveolar bone loss in bivariate relationships: age (P < or = 0.0001); smoking (pack-years) (P < or = 0.0001); race (P < or = 0.002); gender (P < or = 0.032); male-male sex (P <0.001); diabetes (P < or = 0.015); sharing of needles (P < or = 0.02); and hepatitis C positive (P < or = 0.05). In the multiple regression model, age, smoking, race, gender, and male-male sex remained significant. In both analyses, HIV-positive individuals had similar bone loss compared to those who were HIV negative.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that HIV infection is not related to alveolar bone loss in individuals with high-risk behaviors for HIV infection. These results also suggest that previously reported relationships between HIV infection and increased alveolar bone loss may be explained by other factors, such as smoking. Individuals in this study population with risk behaviors associated with HIV infection smoked at a high rate and, because of the smoking behavior, have a high rate of periodontal disease.
Aichelmann-Reidy
Mary E
ME
Department of Periodontics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Wrigley
Dena L
DL
Gunsolley
John C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects; D011859:Radiography; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult