Appendicitis in HIV-infected patients during the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
Limited studies have suggested increased incidence rates and unusual clinical presentations of appendicitis among HIV-infected patients during the pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. Data in the HAART era are sparse, and no study has evaluated potential HIV-related risk factors for the development of appendicitis.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 449 HIV-infected patients receiving care at a US Naval hospital involving 4750 person-years (PY) of follow-up. We also evaluated the rates of appendicitis among HIV-negative persons at our medical facility. We compared demographics, HIV-specific data, and HAART use in HIV-infected patients with and without appendicitis.


RESULTS
Sixteen (3.6%) of 449 patients developed appendicitis after HIV seroconversion. The incidence rate was 337 cases/100 000 PY, more than fourfold higher than among HIV-negative persons. Eighty-eight per cent of cases among HIV-infected patients had an elevated white blood count at presentation, 39% were complicated, and 64% required hospitalization. HIV-infected patients with appendicitis compared with those who did not develop appendicitis were less likely to be receiving HAART (25 vs. 71%, P<0.001), had higher viral loads (3.5 vs. 1.7 log(10) HIV-1 RNA copies/mL, P=0.005), and were younger (median age of 30 vs. 41 years, P<0.002). In the multivariate model, receipt of HAART remained protective [odds ratio (OR) 0.21, P=0.012] for appendicitis, while younger age was positively associated (OR 1.08, P=0.048) with appendicitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute appendicitis occurs at higher incidence rates among HIV-infected patients compared with the general population. Our study demonstrates that the lack of HAART may be a risk factor for appendicitis among HIV-infected patients; further studies are needed.
Crum-Cianflone
N
N
Infectious Disease Clinic, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92134-1005, USA. nancy.crum@med.navy.mil
Weekes
J
J
Bavaro
M
M
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors