Abstract
A longitudinal (9 to 14 months) evaluation of the intestinal function has been performed in 5 children with AIDS (age range 3 months - 9 years).
Diarrhea was observed in two children. One showed 5 episodes of acute, self-limiting diarrhea. The other was diagnosed as having cow's milk protein intolerance and had 5 episodes of diarrhea, 4 of which as a consequence of cow's milk protein ingestion.
All the tests were performed by published methods, while on a normal stool pattern. d-xylose and iron oral loads were positive in 2 out of 3 patients tested. The determination of steatocrit showed steatorrhea in 4/5 cases. Fecal leucocytes were present in 1/3 and increased fecalĪ±1 antitrypsin was found in 2/4. Search for enteric pathogens, including Criptosporidia, was always negative. One child carried a Giardia in her stools. Determination of antigliadin IgG and IgA was positive in 4/4 and 2/4 patients respectively; 2 had intermediate levels of IgA. Although diarrhea was observed in only 2 children and was always mild, several tests indicated an impairment of intestinal function in all cases, suggesting a frequent involvment of upper intestinal function associated with AIDS. The increase in antigliadin IgG and IgA antibodiss night be related to alterations of the intestinal permeability and/or to the immunological derangement.
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Guarino, A., Tarallo, L., Guida, S. et al. EVALUATION OF INTESTINAL FUNCTION IN AIDS. Pediatr Res 26, 275 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198909000-00073
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198909000-00073