Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: HIV infection treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) seems to be associated with hypogonadism in men. Less is known in HIV-infected women gonadal status. The aim of this study is to investigate gonadal function, in menopausal HIV-infected women compared sex- and age-matched healthy subjects (HS).

Methods: We retrospectively compared 188 HIV-infected women with 192 HS selected reviewing record charts and laboratory database respectively. We considered only women older than 50 years and we grouped them according to their age (50–54; 55–59; and >60 years). Basal serum LH, FSH, estradiol, and testosterone were measured. The FSH cut-off of 40 UI/l for establishing menopausal status.

Results: The percentage of subjects with FSH levels >40 UI/l was higher in HIV-infected women (67.5%) than in healthy controls (59.4%). This difference was found also in the younger subgroup (38% vs 27%). FSH serum levels in HIV-infected women (54.08±31.47 mUI/ml) did not differ (P=0.27) from HS (50.87±31 mUI/ml). Accordingly, no significant differences were found in LH, estradiol, and testosterone levels.

Conclusions: Menopause seems to occur at a younger age than HS in HIV-infected women. Moreover, differently from what was documented in HIV-infected male counterpart, HIV-infected women seem to not develop hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, but have a tendency to higher serum FSH at a younger age (<54 years) suggesting premature hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. With this in view menopause may be considered an element of the process of premature aging associated with HIV infection and its comorbidities.