INTRODUCTION: In this study, clinical-
laboratory and epidemiological characteristics are described for a group of 700 individuals with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)/
AIDS (
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ) in the
ART (antiretroviral
therapy ) era at a
teaching hospital that provides a quaternary level of care, with an emphasis on
opportunistic infections (OIs),
co-infections and immune profile.
METHODS: A retrospective
cross-sectional study of
AIDS cases was conducted from 1998 to 2008 by reviewing
medical records from the Base
Hospital /FUNFARME (Fundação Faculdade Regional de Medicina), São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo,
Brazil .
RESULTS: The individuals were 14 to 75 years of age, and 458 were
males .
Heterosexuals accounted for 31.1% of all
patients . Eighty-three percent were on
ART , and 33.8% of those presented difficulties with
treatment adherence . OIs were analyzed from
medical records , and
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia was the most prevalent, regardless of the LTCD4+ (TCD4+
Lymphocytes ) levels. Individuals whose viral loads were ≥10,000 showed a 90% greater chance of
neurotoxoplasmosis . For P. jiroveci
pneumonia ,
neurotoxoplasmosis , esophageal
candidiasis ,
pulmonary tuberculosis and neurocryptococcosis, the chances of
infection were higher among
patients with LTCD4+ levels below 200
cells /mm3.
HIV /
hepatitis C virus (HCV) and
HIV /
hepatitis B virus (HBV)
co-infections were significantly associated with
death .
CONCLUSIONS: OIs remain frequent in the
ART era even in
populations where the access to
medical care is considered satisfactory. .