title: Diagnosis and management of infectious esophagitis associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Esophageal disease is a common complication and cause of morbidity in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Opportunistic infections are the leading cause of esophageal complaints and may be a predictor of poor long-term prognosis, presumably as a reflection of severe underlying HIV immunodeficiency. The esophagus may be the site of the first acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining opportunistic illness in a large number of patients. Barium esophagography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are diagnostic modalities, commonly used to evaluate esophageal complaints in patients with AIDS. Treatment for most etiologies of esophagitis generally has a high degree of success, with a resultant improvement in quality of life. In addition to optimizing antiretroviral therapy, a thorough diagnostic assessment of every HIV-infected patient with esophageal complaints is warranted, followed by timely and appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Long Island Campus for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, New York 11040, USA.
authors.forename: Syed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cervia
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole