RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To compare the intestinal absorptive capacity, permeability function and duodenal histopathology in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with or without wasting syndrome who had not suffered from chronic diarrhea. METHOD: Adult HIV patients who attended Chulalongkorn Hospital were included. The subjects were classified into wasting and non-wasting groups (group I and group II). 25 g oral D-xylose test, oral phenolsulfonephthalein test and duodenal histopathology were performed. RESULTS: Of thirty-two HIV patients, aged between 25-50 years enrolled, there were 18 and 14 patients in group I and group II, respectively. In both groups, the baseline data, permeability function and histopathology were similar. Intestinal absorptive capacity was statistically different, i.e. 5-hour urine D-xylose was 3.96 +/- 2.81 g and 5.95 +/- 2.47 g in group I and group II respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that D-xylose absorption was decreased in non-diarrheal, wasting HIV infected patients. Abnormal absorptive capacity is a common phenomenon found in HIV patients with wasting syndrome as determined by standard 25 g oral D-xylose test.