Publication:

Evaluation of upper gastro intestinal endoscopy among HIV positive and negative patients at a tertiary care hospital: a comparative study

Background Endoscopy is the diagnostic test of choice for most HIV-associated GI diseases, as endoscopic and histopathologic evaluation can render diagnoses in patients with non-specific symptoms.  The objective of the present research was to study the gastrointestinal endoscopic findings among HIV positive patients and compare them with HIV negative patients.

Methods A comparative study was carried out in the department of General Medicine to study the gastrointestinal endoscopic findings among HIV positive patients and compare them with HIV negative patients for a period of two years. 101 cases who were HIV positive were compared with equal number of HIV negative subjects. The subjects in the case group as well as control group were chosen randomly.

Results There was a significant lower incidence of Helicobacter pylori positivity (38.6%) among HIV positive patients when compared to controls (73.6%). There were overall 63 patients with abnormal biopsy findings in HIV group and 75 patients with abnormal biopsy findings in the control group. Among HIV positive patients who were also RUT positive approximately 80% had abnormal histopathological findings. Similarly, among the RUT positive control 81% of the patients had abnormal biopsy findings. Incidence of normal biopsy findings was more in the control group (57.1%) compared to the study group (48.4%). But this difference was not found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions The histology of gastric mucosa was no different in Helicobacter pylori positive or negative subjects with HIV. But Helicobacter pylori incidence was significantly less in HIV positive persons compared to HIV negative.