title: Pancreatic insufficiency in HIV: is it possible?
abstract: Pancreatic involvement in AIDS is very important and common, but there are few studies in the literature concerning the pancreas in AIDS. Therefore, our research involves an important issue in the pancreatic field. The objective of the study was to evaluate the profile of HIV-infected patients with probable exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and its relation to the degree of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This is a cross-sectional study carried out at Faculdade de Medicina do ABC in partnership with the basic health care unit Vila Guiomar in Santo André. We selected 118 individuals divided into four groups (a control group and three other groups composed of AIDS patients, separated according to CD4 levels); participants had an interview, completed a questionnaire, and had laboratory and imaging tests. The only clinical variables with significant differences among the studied groups were the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the incidence of opportunistic infections, the administration of chemoprophylaxis, and weight loss. There were no differences in the amylase, lipase, and steatocrit dosages among the groups. Levels of fecal elastase 1 were lower in the HIV patient groups (2, 3, and 4) when compared with the control group, although all of them showed average levels that were much higher than the cutoff point (200 μg/g). Only nonalcoholic individuals showed a relationship between diarrhea and alterations in elastase levels. A relationship between the use of HAART and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in different phases of HIV infection could not be verified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ethel Zimberg
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Chehter
authors.forename: Marcelo Rodrigues
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: Ruda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alessi
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Oria
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chicoli
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salloto
authors.forename: Fabio Luiz
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Maximiano
authors.forename: Fernando Luiz Afonso
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents