       Document 0426
 DOCN  M9610426
 TI    Lack of correlation between diarrhea and weight loss in HIV-positive
       outpatients in Houston, Texas.
 DT    9601
 AU    Mosavi AJ; Hussain MF; DuPont HL; Mathewson JJ; White AC Jr; Center for
       Infectious Diseases, University of Texas School of; Public Health/School
       of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine,; Houston, USA.
 SO    J Clin Gastroenterol. 1995 Jul;21(1):61-4. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96004432
 AB    To determine the prevalence of diarrhea and weight loss among human
       immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, we reviewed the records
       of all patients attending the Harris County HIV Clinic during a 4-month
       time period. Diarrhea was considered persistent if it had been present
       for > 14 days or on two or more consecutive clinic visits. Weight loss
       was defined as moderate (5-10% reduction in weight) or severe (> 10%
       reduction) when the present weight was compared with the weight found at
       the initial clinic visit. Records were reviewed for 1,370 patients, of
       whom 12.2% complained of diarrhea (7.7% acute and 4.5% persistent).
       Diarrhea was more common among patients with a history of male-to-male
       sexual contact than in patients with other HIV risk factors (p < 0.003
       for acute and p < 0.006 for persistent). The mean CD4 cell count was not
       significantly different in patients with or without persistent diarrhea
       (176 versus 212) or acute diarrhea (215 versus 212). Weight loss was
       reported in 25.2% of subjects (12.8% moderate and 12.4% severe). It did
       not correlate with CD4 count. Persistent diarrhea also was not
       associated with weight loss. Acute and persistent diarrhea were common
       among ambulatory HIV-positive patients, particularly in homosexual men.
       We did not identify a correlation among diarrhea, weight loss, and CD4
       count. Thus, factors other than chronic diarrhea and immunosuppression
       appear to be responsible for weight loss in HIV-infected patients.
 DE    Acute Disease  Adult  Chronic Disease  CD4 Lymphocyte Count
       Diarrhea/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/*COMPLICATIONS/IMMUNOLOGY  Male  Prevalence  Retrospective
       Studies  Statistics  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.  Texas/EPIDEMIOLOGY
       *Weight Loss  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

