Distal renal tubular acidosis in a child with HIV infection.

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is not uncommon in HIV-infected children with advanced disease, and has been described mainly due to nephrotoxic anti-retroviral therapy and in association with prophylaxis or treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with co-trimoxazole. We describe an 8-year-old boy, newly diagnosed to have HIV infection, who presented with distal RTA. There were no features of chronic RTA in the form of rickets or nephrocalcinosis, making an inherited form unlikely.