Chronic rhinosinusitis in HIV-infected patients: radiological and clinical evaluation.
The advent of protease inhibitors, which enhances the survival rate of HIV-infected individuals, leads patients to search for otorhinolaryngologists, as 40-70% of them may present some sort of otorhinolaryngological disorder.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed at comparing the CT scan findings and the nasosinusal complaints of HIV-infected and AIDS patients with clinical diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. The literature on the subject is revised and discussed.


METHODS
Clinical prospective with transversal cohort.


METHODS
Prospectively, 39 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, in use of antiretroviral therapy, were included in the present study and divided into two groups: patients with diagnosis of AIDS (group I) and those infected by HIV (group II). Clinical and laboratorial assessments, with CD4+ cell count and CT evaluation, were performed and compared among groups I and II.


RESULTS
Group I and II presented mean CD4+ cell count of 118 cells/10-9l and 377 cells/10-9l, respectively. Comparison of the tomographic findings by the Lund-Mackay staging system presented a score of 12 for group I and 5.63 (pd" 0.001) for group II. Fever and postnasal discharge were more prevalent in group I (pd" 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In our Service, prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in HIV-infected patients was 12%. AIDS patients had a higher incidence of fever and postnasal discharge than those of group II. Moreover, extensive radiological findings were prevalent in patients with AIDS (group I) than in HIV-infected individuals (group II).
Miziara
Ivan Dieb
ID
Division of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo.
Araujo Filho
Bernardo Cunha
BC
La Cortina
Rodrigo Cataldo de
RC
Romano
Fabrício R
FR
Lima
Adriana S
AS
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed