Spectrum of clinical disease in a series of hospitalized HIV-infected patients from southeast of Iran

ABSTRACT

To determine the pattern of opportunistic infections [OIs] and non-infectious opportunistic diseases in hospitalized HIV-infected patients in Zahedan, southeast of Iran. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 52 HIV-infected patients [47 male, 5 female; age range, 21-54 years] who were admitted to Boo-Ali Hospital, Zahedan, Iran for evaluation and management of an HIV-related disorders from April 2000 to December 2005. Tuberculosis [TB] was the most common opportunistic infections [53.8%] followed by hepatitis C [11.5%], typhoid [9.6%], amebiasis [9.6%], candidal esophagitis [5.7%], acute bacterial pneumonia [3.8%], and cerebral toxoplasmosis [1.9%]. Most of the cases of TB were pulmonary [36.5%]. Apart from other well-recognized OIs, 2 cases of HIV-associated lymphoma were encountered. Only 12 patients [23.07%] received antiretroviral therapy. Five patients [9.6%] died during hospital stay due to tuberculosis [4 cases] and typhoid [1 case]. The findings show that opportunistic infections are common in HIV-infected patients in Zahedan, southeast of Iran. Tuberculosis remains the most common OIs and is the most common cause of death in these patients