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Title
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Persistent diarrhoea in Zairian AIDS patients : an endoscopical and historical study
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Author
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Abstract
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| To determine the aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in African patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 42 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and persistent diarrhoea were enrolled in a microbiological, endoscopic, and histological study. Cryptosporidium was the intestinal parasite most often identified (30%); Isospora belli was found in 12% of the patients. Histological examination of the duodenal mucosa showed a non-specific inflammatory reaction in a significantly higher number of HIV-seropositive patients (82%) than HIV-seronegative controls without diarrhoea (52%) (p = 0.02). Lymphocytes were more likely to be found in inflammatory reactions in HIV-seropositive patients than in controls (p less than 0.0001). Pathogens were observed in histological sections of the duodenum of HIV-seropositive patients only (p = 0.002) and included cryptosporidia (four patients) Isospora belli (one), Strongyloides stercoralis (one), and Cryptococcus neoformans (one). On histological examination the rectal mucosa of HIV-seropositive patients and controls was similar, except eosinophils were more likely to be present in inflammatory reaction in HIV-seropositive patients (p = 0.05) and enteric pathogens were observed only in HIV-seropositive patients (cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies (one) and Schistosoma mansoni (two). The aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in most African AIDS patients remains unclear. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Gut : the journal of the British Society for Gastroenterology / British Society for Gastroenterology. - London, 1960, currens
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Publication
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London
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1988
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ISSN
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0017-5749
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Volume/pages
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29
:12
(1988)
, p. 1687-1691
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