Rhinosinusitis in HIV-infected children undergoing antiretroviral therapy.
The association of protease inhibitors (PI) to antiretroviral therapy has generated sensible changes in morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients.


OBJECTIVE
Aims at evaluating the impact of this association on the prevalence of rhinosinusitis (RS) and CD4+ lymphocyte count in HIV-infected children.


METHODS
Retrospective cross-sectional study of the medical charts of 471 HIV-infected children. In 1996, protease inhibitors were approved for use as an association drug in antiretroviral therapy. Children were divided into two groups: one which did not receive PI and another which received PI after 1996. The prevalence of RS and CD4+ lymphocyte counts were compared between these groups.


RESULTS
14.4% of HIV-infected children had RS. Chronic RS was more prevalent the its acute counterpart. Children under 6 years old who were taking protease inhibitors presented with a significant higher prevalence of acute RS. The association of PI with the antiretroviral regimen was associated to higher mean CD4+ lymphocyte count and lower prevalence of chronic RS.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of protease inhibitors was associated to higher mean CD4+ lymphocyte count. Children under 6 years of age in antiretroviral therapy associated with PI presented a lower likelihood of developing chronic RS.
Pinheiro Neto
Carlos Diógenes
CD
Divisão de Clínica Otorrinolaringológica, Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Oftalmologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo.
Weber
Raimar
R
Araújo-Filho
Bernardo Cunha
BC
Miziara
Ivan Dieb
ID
D000208:Acute Disease; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000453:epidemiology*