title: Morphological changes of the upper gastrointestinal tract mucosa and Helicobacter pylori infection in HIV-positive patients with severe immunodeficiency and symptoms of dyspepsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV infection causes progressive immune defense system dysfunction, including the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the morphological changes in the upper-GI tract mucosa in HIV-infected patients in relation to the degree of immunodeficiency, presence of H. pylori, fungal colonization, and antiretroviral treatment (HAART).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-six patients (94 HIV positive, 52 HIV negative) with dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated by upper GI endoscopy and biopsy. The HIV-infected were divided into two groups: 47 patients with CD4+ count >200/mm(3) and 47 with severe immunodeficiency (CD4+ count <200/mm(3)); 42 of the total patients were treated with HAART. Gastric biopsies for histopathology and urease test, esophageal swabs, and gastric aspirates for mycological evaluation were taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HIV-infected patients with severe immunodeficiency had a lower prevalence of H. pylori infection and active chronic gastritis in the gastric antrum compared with the other HIV-infected patients and controls (H. pylori in 40%, 72%, and 69%, respectively; p<0.05). Mycotic esophagitis and mycotic colonization of the stomach were more frequent in patients with severe immunodeficiency. The prevalence of gastric mucosa changes was not different between the patients treated and not treated with HAART; H. pylori infection was less frequent in HIV-infected patients treated with HAART (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In severely immunodeficient patients with dyspeptic symptoms, the prevalence of H. pylori and active chronic gastritis in the gastric antrum is much lower than in HIV-negative patients. H. pylori infection is less frequent in patients treated with HAART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Crocow, Poland. tmach@su.krakow.pl
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skwara
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biesiada
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cieśla
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D004947:Esophagus / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male