A M Wnuk1. 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Pomeranian University of Medicine, Szczecin, Poland. annabk@inet.com.pl
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatic disorders in a cohort of HIV-infected patients including clinical, biochemical, serological and histopathological data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 125 patients, 23 (18.4%) females and 102 (81.6%) males with an average age of 30.2+/-8.4 yrs, were retrospectively analysed. 61 patients (49.2%) were i. v. drug users (IVDU) and 64 patients (51.8%) were infected HIV by sexual contact. AIDS was diagnosed in 52 (41.6%) patients. RESULTS: Hepatomegaly was detected in 62 (49.6%) patients. An increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was found in 110 (88%) patients. Testing showed 61 (48.8%) patients with evidence of a history of hepatitis B infection; 71 (56.8%) were anti-HCV positive and 40 (32%) had serological markers of both infections. 36 (28.8%) patients underwent liver biopsy. Abnormalities were detected in 32 (88%) patients. The biopsies of 13 (37.1%) patients revealed features of chronic viral hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS: HCV and HBV co-infection is frequently encountered in this cohort of HIV-infected patients. In the majority of cases the liver diseases were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. The hepatic disorders found in HIV-infected patients are due to different etiopathogenic factors.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatic disorders in a cohort of HIV-infectedpatients including clinical, biochemical, serological and histopathological data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 125 patients, 23 (18.4%) females and 102 (81.6%) males with an average age of 30.2+/-8.4 yrs, were retrospectively analysed. 61 patients (49.2%) were i. v. drug users (IVDU) and 64 patients (51.8%) were infected HIV by sexual contact. AIDS was diagnosed in 52 (41.6%) patients. RESULTS:Hepatomegaly was detected in 62 (49.6%) patients. An increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was found in 110 (88%) patients. Testing showed 61 (48.8%) patients with evidence of a history of hepatitis B infection; 71 (56.8%) were anti-HCV positive and 40 (32%) had serological markers of both infections. 36 (28.8%) patients underwent liver biopsy. Abnormalities were detected in 32 (88%) patients. The biopsies of 13 (37.1%) patients revealed features of chronic viral hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS: HCV and HBV co-infection is frequently encountered in this cohort of HIV-infectedpatients. In the majority of cases the liver diseases were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. The hepatic disorders found in HIV-infectedpatients are due to different etiopathogenic factors.
Authors: Ponsiano Ocama; Michael Katwere; Theresa Piloya; Jordan Feld; Kenneth C Opio; Andrew Kambugu; Elly Katabira; David Thomas; Robert Colebunders; Allan Ronald Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 0.927