Diagnosing and treating opportunistic infections of the oesophagus in AIDS patients.
The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has created new problems in many areas of medicine. One of the most frequent gastrointestinal clinical manifestations of the disease is dysphagia/odynophagia which occurs in over 50% of patients at any stage of the illness and may severely compromise, if untreated, the nutritional status of the patient. In most cases it is due to an infection of the oesophagus by opportunistic pathogens (fungi or viruses or both) and may be successfully treated, at least temporarily, by specific drugs. This article reviews the most recent acquisitions in terms of diagnosis and treatment of such common problems in patients with AIDS.
Bianchi Porro
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Divisione di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale L Sacco, Milano, Italy.
Parente
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D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy