BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sinusitis is a frequent and typical disease in HIV-positive patients. It was the aim of this study to examine retrospectively computed tomograms (CT) and magnetic resonance images (MRI) of such patients for sinusitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CT and MRI of the nasal sinuses were retrospectively analysed in 71 HIV-positive patients. RESULTS: Sinusitis was diagnosed in 49 of the 71 patients by conventional radiology (38), CT (13) and/or MRI. In patients with sinusitis, contrary to those without it, there was a significant correlation between progression of the HIV infection, as measured by reduction in CD4 count, and an increased number of symptoms (r = -0.297; p < 0.05). The latter also correlated significantly with the frequency of concomitant sinusitis (r = 0.336, p < 0.05). The radiological findings correlated more closely with the CD4 count when tomography was used. The correlation coefficient for the number of patients with concomitant sinus disease rose from r = -0.305 to r = -0.459 and for the degree of severity from r = -0.324 to r = -0.484 (p < 0.05). Severity of sinus disease was clearly more marked among HIV-positive than HIV-negative patients. CONCLUSION: The severity of sinusitis in HIV-positive patients correlated directly with the level of the CD4 count. In these patients tomographic methods are preferable to conventional radiology.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Sinusitis is a frequent and typical disease in HIV-positivepatients. It was the aim of this study to examine retrospectively computed tomograms (CT) and magnetic resonance images (MRI) of such patients for sinusitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CT and MRI of the nasal sinuses were retrospectively analysed in 71 HIV-positivepatients. RESULTS:Sinusitis was diagnosed in 49 of the 71 patients by conventional radiology (38), CT (13) and/or MRI. In patients with sinusitis, contrary to those without it, there was a significant correlation between progression of the HIV infection, as measured by reduction in CD4 count, and an increased number of symptoms (r = -0.297; p < 0.05). The latter also correlated significantly with the frequency of concomitant sinusitis (r = 0.336, p < 0.05). The radiological findings correlated more closely with the CD4 count when tomography was used. The correlation coefficient for the number of patients with concomitant sinus disease rose from r = -0.305 to r = -0.459 and for the degree of severity from r = -0.324 to r = -0.484 (p < 0.05). Severity of sinus disease was clearly more marked among HIV-positive than HIV-negative patients. CONCLUSION: The severity of sinusitis in HIV-positivepatients correlated directly with the level of the CD4 count. In these patients tomographic methods are preferable to conventional radiology.