The intestinal mucosa as a reservoir of HIV-1 infection after successful HAART.

The presence of HIV-1 RNA in distal duodenal mucosa was evaluated in 44 HIV-1-positive patients. HIV-1 RNA was detected in gut tissue in antiretroviral-naive patients with high plasma viral loads, as well as in patients on HAART with plasma viral loads below the limit of detection and in patients on HAART with virological failure. The intestinal mucosa seems to serve as a reservoir poorly influenced by levels of plasma viral load or HAART.

[Endoscopic approach in HIV infected-patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms]. / Evaluación endoscópica de pacientes VIH positivos con síntomas digestivos altos.

UNLABELLED: Upper gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain, heartburn, early satiety, bloating and anorexia, are frequently reported by HIV positive patients; however, their prevalence and diagnostic approach are unknown. AIMS: To evaluate the frequency of endoscopic and histologic diagnosis in HIV positive patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms referred to upper endoscopy, and to compare them with those found in a non-HIV infected group with similar symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of 132 HIV positive patients referred to upper endoscopy, 102 (75%) with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, and 177 non-HIV controls were prospectively included. All patients answered questionnaires assessing frequency, severity and impact of symptoms on quality of life, and underwent upper endoscopy with systematic mucosal biopsies from esophagus, stomach and distal duodenum. RESULTS: Upper abdominal pain, heartburn and bloating were the most common upper gastrointestinal symptom reported in both groups. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting and early satiety were more frequent among HIV positive patients (p = or < 0.01). Intensity and impact of symptoms quality of life were higher in this group (p = 0.0001). Opportunistic infections were detected in 29 (28.4%) HIV positive patients. This subgroup had a lower mean CD4 count (p = 0.0004). In 76 (75.4%) HIV positive non-opportunistic diseases were diagnosed, with similar frequency to HIV negative individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Upper endoscopy with biopsies detected opportunistic and non-opportunistic diseases in HIV positive patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Opportunistic diseases were related to lower CD4 counts. Non-opportunistic diseases had similar frequency in both groups, HIV positive and negative controls.