title: Enteral alimentation and repletion of body cell mass in malnourished patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility, tolerance, and efficacy of enteral feeding in malnourished AIDS patients. This was a prospective study of eight AIDS patients with severe eating disorders associated with systemic diseases. A defined diet was administered through an endoscopically placed gastrostomy tube. Body composition studies and selected serum and immunologic studies were done at baseline and monthly for 2 mo. Enteral feeding was associated with an increase of approximately 14% in total body potassium, an index of body cell mass (P less than 0.02), and an increase in body fat content (P less than 0.002). Serum albumin concentration (P less than 0.005) and iron-binding capacity also rose. Serum immunoglobulins did not change. The numbers of total lymphocytes (P less than 0.005) and CD8+ cells rose but CD4+ cells did not change. The tube and enteral feedings were well tolerated. These results demonstrate that enteral feeding may result in body-cell-mass repletion in malnourished AIDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10025.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kotler
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferraro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cuff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Pierson
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Heymsfield
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies