title: Microsporidial disease in HIV-infected patients: a report of 42 patients and review of the literature.
abstract: Microsporidiosis is recognized as an increasingly important infection, particularly in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In this retrospective study we have reviewed the clinical features, laboratory findings and management of 42 HIV positive patients co-infected with microsporidia. All patients had spores identified in faeces stained with a modified trichome blue stain. Patients were all markedly immunosuppressed (median CD4 20 cells/microl). Common symptoms included weight loss, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, anorexia and nausea. 29 patients were diagnosed with Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection; 13 were infected with Encephalitozoon intestinalis, and disseminated disease was confirmed in 8. Albendazole therapy in patients with E. intestinalis (but not E. bieneusi) resulted in good clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leder
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spelman
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Crowe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016817:Apansporoblastina; D016890:Encephalitozoonosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D015766:Albendazole