[Intestinal absorption of D-xylose in children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the intestinal absorption in HIV-infected children children 14 months to 14 years and to investigate its relationship to diarrhea, nutritional status, immune dysfunction, classical enteric parasites and Cryptosporidium.


METHODS
Intestinal absorption was investigated by measuring serum D-xylose. Fecal samples were investigated for classical pathogens and Cryptosporidium. The sample size was calculated considering a 30% prevalence of altered D-xylose absorption in HIV-infected children with a 5% accuracy. Statistical procedures used were: descriptive measurements, multiple correspondence analysis and logistic regression.


RESULTS
D-xylose absorption was altered in only 8 out of 104 (7.7%) and Cryptosporidium was positive in 33 out of 104 (31.73%) HIV-infected children. The multiple correspondence analysis suggested an association between an altered D-xylose test and Cryptosporidium. D-xylose malabsorption was not associated with diarrhea, nutritional status, immune disfunction and classic enteric parasites.


CONCLUSIONS
Intestinal malabsorption evaluated through the D-xylose test was an uncommon finding in HIV-infected children. Intestinal dysfunction when present seems to be related to Cryptosporidium, but not to diarrhea, nutritional status, immune disfunction and classic enteric parasites.
Perin
N M
NM
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Serviço de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmão. nperin@fitnet.com.br
Pires
M M
MM
Nassar
S M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D014994:Xylose
D014994:Xylose
Absorção intestinal de D-xilose em crianças infectadas pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana.