Bacillary angiomatosis in HIV-infected patients--an epidemiological and clinical study.
BACKGROUND
No data were available on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of bacillary angiomatosis (BA) in Germany.


OBJECTIVE
To determine epidemiological and clinical data on HIV-associated BA.


METHODS
A chart review of all BA cases between 1990 and 1998 was performed in 23 German AIDS treatment units.


RESULTS
A total of 21 cases of BA was diagnosed. During this period, the participating HIV centers treated about 17,000 HIV-infected patients. As a result, a BA prevalence of 1.2 cases/1,000 patients can be assumed. 19 BA were localized in the skin; in 5 cases bones and in 4 cases the liver were involved. Out of 20 patients who received antibiotic therapy, 13 had complete remission. The median time of duration up to complete remission was 32 days (9-82). During the follow-up of the 20 patients, 7 relapses were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
BA is a rare HIV-associated disease with a prevalence of 1,2 cases/1,000 patients in the presented study.
Plettenberg
A
A
Allgemeines Krankenhaus St. Georg, Hamburg, Deutschland. Plettenberg@compuserve.com
Lorenzen
T
T
Burtsche
B T
BT
Rasokat
H
H
Kaliebe
T
T
Albrecht
H
H
Mertenskötter
T
T
Bogner
J R
JR
Stoehr
A
A
Schöfer
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016917:Angiomatosis, Bacillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001473:Bartonella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin