title: Liver damage in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatic disorders in a cohort of HIV-infected patients including clinical, biochemical, serological and histopathological data.
  
  
  METHODS
  125 patients, 23 (18.4%) females and 102 (81.6%) males with an average age of 30.2+/-8.4 yrs, were retrospectively analysed. 61 patients (49.2%) were i. v. drug users (IVDU) and 64 patients (51.8%) were infected HIV by sexual contact. AIDS was diagnosed in 52 (41.6%) patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatomegaly was detected in 62 (49.6%) patients. An increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level was found in 110 (88%) patients. Testing showed 61 (48.8%) patients with evidence of a history of hepatitis B infection; 71 (56.8%) were anti-HCV positive and 40 (32%) had serological markers of both infections. 36 (28.8%) patients underwent liver biopsy. Abnormalities were detected in 32 (88%) patients. The biopsies of 13 (37.1%) patients revealed features of chronic viral hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV and HBV co-infection is frequently encountered in this cohort of HIV-infected patients. In the majority of cases the liver diseases were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. The hepatic disorders found in HIV-infected patients are due to different etiopathogenic factors.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Pomeranian University of Medicine, Szczecin, Poland. annabk@inet.com.pl
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Wnuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006529:Hepatomegaly; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases