Document 2955
 DOCN  M94A2955
 TI    AIDS associated diarrhea. Preliminary results of a study.
 DT    9412
 AU    Tumbarello M; Ventura G; Tacconelli E; Scoppettuolo G; Papi G; Cauda R;
       Istituto Malattie Infettive, Universita Cattolica Roma, Italy.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):187 (abstract no. PB0175). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369620
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency, microbiological agents, clinical
       findings and impact on the quality of life of diarrhea in AIDS patients
       (pts). METHODS: All consecutive AIDS pts admitted to our ward from
       7-1993 to 2-1994 were included in the study. Diarrhea was defined as 3
       or more daily bowel movements for more than 2 consecutive days. From
       each pts with diarrhea stool samples were screened for bacteria and
       parasites. An adapted version of the Functional Living Index for Cancer
       test was used to evaluate the quality of life in AIDS pts with (group A)
       or without (group B) diarrhea in comparison to a randomly selected group
       of HIV asymptomatic individuals (group C). RESULTS: 44 patients with
       AIDS related diarrhea were observed (29 M and 15 F, mean age 32 +/- 4
       yrs.). In 24 patients diarrhea was related to one or more enteric
       pathogens, namely Cryptosporidium (29%), NT-Salmonella (21%),
       Mycobacterium avium complex (21%), C. difficile (17%) and Campylobacter
       (12.5%). No specific agent responsible of diarrhea was identified in 45%
       of the cases. The response to antimicrobial therapy was favorable in 68%
       of cases. 11 patients with refractory diarrhea were treated with
       antidiarrhoeal therapy, i.e. loperamide or octeotride. The quality of
       life resulted low in group A and B (p < 0.05 versus group C); in
       particular, the pts of group A had the lower quality of life (p = ns
       versus group B). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that
       diarrhea is a rilevant issue that can negatively influences the quality
       of life of AIDS pts.
 DE    Adult  AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/DIAGNOSIS/DRUG THERAPY/
       *ETIOLOGY  Diagnosis, Differential  Diarrhea/DRUG THERAPY/*ETIOLOGY
       Female  Human  Loperamide/THERAPEUTIC USE  Male  Octreotide/THERAPEUTIC
       USE  Quality of Life  MEETING ABSTRACT

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