title: Liver enlargement associated with opportunistic infections in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Liver disease is commonly present in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The aim was to determine the frequency of liver enlargement and its association with opportunistic infections in patients with HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 400 HIV-infected patients were investigated. Commercial kits (Ortho EIA; BioRad, ELISA) were used for detection of serum specific antibodies to HIV, hepatitis C virus, surface antigen of hepatitis B virus, and cytomegalovirus. Liver tissues were stained for various microorganisms. The electronic data base SPSS for Windows (version 10.0) was used for statistical analysis. A p <0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasonographic screening revealed liver enlargement in 63.75% of HIV patients. In 40.7% the right lobe size varied from 140 mm to 160 mm. Of those with hepatomegaly, 60.7% had AIDS. Hepatitis C and B viruses and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were detected in 50%, 29% and 18% of patients, respectively. Histological changes were mostly non-specific. Liver pathology depended on the degree of cellular immune deficiency, particularly in patients with HBV co-infection. In a minority of patients (32.5%), the histology revealed granulomatous hepatitis. Liver function tests were abnormal in 46%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver enlargement is common in HIV-infected patients mostly in association with hepatitis C and B viruses and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center of Montenegro, Podgorica, Ljubljanska bb Podgorica, Montenegro. zodra@cg.yu
authors.forename: Dragica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Terzic
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brmbolic
authors.forename: Djordje
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Brankica
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dupanovic
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korac
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Selemovic
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Svirtlih
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Draskovic
authors.forename: Boban
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mugosa
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boricic
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Terzic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens