[Intestinal absorption of D-xylose in children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus]. / Absorção intestinal de D-xilose em crianças infectadas pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the intestinal absorption in HIV-infected children children 14 months to 14 years and to investigate its relationship to diarrhea, nutritional status, immune dysfunction, classical enteric parasites and Cryptosporidium. METHODS: Intestinal absorption was investigated by measuring serum D-xylose. Fecal samples were investigated for classical pathogens and Cryptosporidium. The sample size was calculated considering a 30% prevalence of altered D-xylose absorption in HIV-infected children with a 5% accuracy. Statistical procedures used were descriptive measurements, multiple correspondence analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: D-xylose absorption was altered in only 8 out of 104 (7.7%) and Cryptosporidium was positive in 33 out of 104 (31.73%) HIV-infected children. The multiple correspondence analysis suggested an association between an altered D-xylose test and Cryptosporidium. D-xylose malabsorption was not associated with diarrhea, nutritional status, immune disfunction and classic enteric parasites. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal malabsorption evaluated through the D-xylose test was an uncommon finding in HIV-infected children. Intestinal dysfunction when present seems to be related to Cryptosporidium, but not to diarrhea, nutritional status, immune disfunction and classic enteric parasites.