OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the development of children with vertically transmitted HIV infection by comparing two methods for bone age assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 children aged between 4 years and two months and 11 years and 9 months were studied. The hands and wrists of the children were X-rayed using standard techniques and the films were subsequently analyzed according to the Greulich & Pyle (1959) and by Eklöf & Ringertz (1967) methods. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences between the two methods, with the Eklöf & Ringertz method being distinguished by higher sensitivity (p < 0.05). In the group of female patients statistically significant differences were seen between control and HIV+ cases (seven cases) when assessed using this method (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study showed that HIV influenced skeletal development in this group of patients.

Keywords: Skeletal age, HIV infection, Children, Eklöf & Ringertz, Greulich & Pyle