Gastrointestinal manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The increasing frequency of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) mandates that all physicians be aware of the diverse nature of problems that affect this group of patients. The gastrointestinal tract is involved in approximately 50% of patients with AIDS, although not all are symptomatic. Common problems include diarrhea, malabsorption, and weight loss. These can be due to enteric infection, neoplasia, or an ill-defined enteropathy. Gastrointestinal bleeding can also become problematic either as a presenting manifestation of the illness or during the prolonged periods of debilitation that many of these individuals experience. An aggressive diagnostic approach is necessary to recognize treatable abnormalities in the digestive tract of AIDS patients.