Effect of HIV transmission category and CD4 count on the occurrence of diarrhea in HIV-infected patients.
This study was designed to assess the relative contributions of HIV transmission category and immunodeficiency to the risk of HIV-related diarrhea. We reviewed the medical records of 169 HIV-infected non-AIDS patients seen between 1986 and 1990 at the Houston VA Special Medicine Clinic. The prevalence of diarrhea at any given clinic visit ranged from 3% to 7%. Diarrhea was three times more common in homosexual/bisexual men [odds ratio = 3.0 (1.01-9.53)], and this pattern persisted when stratified by CD4 count. Previous studies have focused mainly on the detection of enteric organisms in patients with HIV-related diarrhea. Studies of the temporal relationships between sexual practices, enteric pathogens, diarrhea, and immunodeficiency are needed to clarify the pathogenesis of HIV-related diarrhea.
Rabeneck
L
L
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas.
Crane
M M
MM
Risser
J M
JM
Lacke
C E
CE
Wray
N P
NP
D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016019:Survival Analysis