The prevalence of renal impairment among adults with early HIV disease in Blantyre, Malawi.

We determined the prevalence of renal impairment and possible HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) in adults with World Health Organization (WHO) stages I or II HIV, presenting to the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic in a central hospital in Malawi. We enrolled 526 ART-naïve subjects, 67% women, median age 34 (17-73) years and mean CD4 count 305 (3-993) cells/µL. Blood pressure, weight, urine dipstick and microscopy, CD4 cell count and serum creatinine were measured. Creatinine clearance (CrCL) was estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Possible HIVAN was diagnosed based on levels of proteinuria and CrCl. In all, 23.3% had proteinuria (≥ 1+). 57.4% had reduced CrCl (< 90 mL/minute): 18.8% had moderate (CrCl 30-59 mL/minute) and 2.2% severe (CrCl <30 mL/minute) renal dysfunction. Extrapolating from renal biopsy studies that confirmed HIVAN, the proportion of patients with HIVAN in our clinic ranges from 1.8-21.2%. We conclude that renal impairment was common, though rarely severe, among HIV-infected adults with clinically non-advanced HIV disease. Renal dysfunction has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for (early) mortality. These results are relevant for ART programmes, such as those in Malawi, where renal function is not routinely assessed.

Cryptosporidium parvum and Isospora belli infections among patients with and without diarrhoea.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the importance of Cryptosporidium parvum and Isospora belli infections as a cause of diarrhoea among patients admitted to the Medical Wards in Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi. DESIGN: Prospective case control study. SUBJECTS: One hundred and twenty one patients with diarrhoea and 122 patients without diarrhoea. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demonstration of C. parvum and I. belli oocysts by examination of at least one stool sample per patient using phenol auramine-O-fluorescence staining and an immuno-fluorescent assay with monoclonal antibodies against Cryptosporidium, seropositivity for HIV and AIDS. RESULTS: In 22% of the patients with diarrhoea an infection with C. parvum or I. belli was found. Thirteen (11%) of them had a C. parvum and 14 (12%) an I. belli infection; a mixed infection was found in one patient. In the control group, three (3%) C. parvum and three (3%) I. belli infections were seen. The prevalence of both infections was very significantly higher in the cohort of diarrhoea patients than in the controls, 13/108 versus 3/119 (p=0.0099) for C. parvum, and 14/107 versus 3/119 (p=0.0056) for I. belli. Infections were only seen in HIV positive patients. Two hundred and four (84%) patients were HIV positive and 145 (60%) of them had AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: C. parvum and I. belli infections are a significant cause of diarrhoea among medical in-patients at QECH. Examinations of stool specimen for parasites among hospitalised patients with diarrhoea provide data for a more appropriate management.