Investigation of seemingly pathogen-negative diarrhoea in patients infected with HIV1

Connolly, G M, Forbes, A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7416-9843 and Gazzard, B G (1990) Investigation of seemingly pathogen-negative diarrhoea in patients infected with HIV1. Gut, 31 (8). pp. 886-9. ISSN 0017-5749

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Abstract

Thirty three consecutive patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV1) with persistent diarrhoea which remained undiagnosed after microbiological examination of six stool samples and rectal histology were investigated for malabsorption. All had xylose and Schilling tests, distal duodenal biopsy, comprehensive barium studies, microbiological examination of six further stool samples, and repeat rectal histology. A microbiological or histological diagnosis of infection was made in 12 patients (multiple organisms in three). Cryptosporidia were identified on five occasions, cytomegalovirus on four, Giardia lamblia on two, and herpes simplex, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enteritidis, and Entamoeba histolytica once each. No organism was found when weight loss was less than 5 kg or stool volume less than 400 ml/day (n = 9). Pathogens were identified in nine of 13 patients (69%) with weight loss greater than 10 kg and stool volume more than 800 ml/day. Barium studies were normal except for ileal flocculation in two patients with cryptosporidiosis. Evidence for malabsorption existed in 24 patients--impaired xylose absorption (n = 19) and abnormal Schilling test (n = 21). Of the patients with a severely abnormal Schilling test, a pathogen was identified in 11 (79%) (including all five with cryptosporidia, and two of the patients with only moderate diarrhoea and weight loss). A simple scoring system based on degree of weight loss and Schilling test result may help to identify the HIV positive patient with seemingly pathogen-negative diarrhoea in whom further investigations are likely to show a specific cause.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,adolescent,adult,diarrhea,hiv-1,humans,infection,malabsorption syndromes,male,middle aged,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Gastroenterology and Gut Biology
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Nutrition and Preventive Medicine
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 06 Aug 2014 10:40
Last Modified: 20 Oct 2022 23:57
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/49521
DOI: 10.1136/gut.31.8.886

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