Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients

Endoscopy plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), because tissue documentation of opportunistic processes is often necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis. With progression of immunodeficiency, endoscopy becomes more important beca...

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Main Author: C Mel Wilcox
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1999-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/418170
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author C Mel Wilcox
author_facet C Mel Wilcox
author_sort C Mel Wilcox
collection DOAJ
description Endoscopy plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), because tissue documentation of opportunistic processes is often necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis. With progression of immunodeficiency, endoscopy becomes more important because the predisposition to opportunistic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract is greatly increased. The yield of upper endoscopy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is dependent upon the indication for the procedure, including the clinical presentation and the stage of immunodeficiency. Indications for which endoscopy has a high yield include AIDS with esophageal symptoms refractory to empirical antifungal therapy, small bowel biopsy for chronic severe diarrhea and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Although processes can be identified, a diagnosis is less likely in patients who present with nausea and vomiting or nonspecific abdominal pain. By tailoring the use of endoscopy to the presenting symptoms and CD4 lymphocyte count, the diagnostic benefit can be increased.
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series Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
spelling doaj-art-fd1f47e98e654030926896e9d82267632025-02-03T01:00:52ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology0835-79001999-01-0113430531010.1155/1999/418170Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected PatientsC Mel Wilcox0Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, CanadaEndoscopy plays a pivotal role in the management of patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), because tissue documentation of opportunistic processes is often necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis. With progression of immunodeficiency, endoscopy becomes more important because the predisposition to opportunistic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract is greatly increased. The yield of upper endoscopy in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is dependent upon the indication for the procedure, including the clinical presentation and the stage of immunodeficiency. Indications for which endoscopy has a high yield include AIDS with esophageal symptoms refractory to empirical antifungal therapy, small bowel biopsy for chronic severe diarrhea and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Although processes can be identified, a diagnosis is less likely in patients who present with nausea and vomiting or nonspecific abdominal pain. By tailoring the use of endoscopy to the presenting symptoms and CD4 lymphocyte count, the diagnostic benefit can be increased.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/418170
spellingShingle C Mel Wilcox
Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
title Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients
title_full Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients
title_fullStr Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients
title_full_unstemmed Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients
title_short Role of Endoscopy in the Investigation of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms in HIV-Infected Patients
title_sort role of endoscopy in the investigation of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in hiv infected patients
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/418170
work_keys_str_mv AT cmelwilcox roleofendoscopyintheinvestigationofuppergastrointestinalsymptomsinhivinfectedpatients