Colorectal Disorders in Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Case Series

Background.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is important in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report a case series of lower GI endoscopic and histopathologic findings of HIV-infected individuals after presentation with acute infection.

Methods.

We performed a retrospective case review of individuals infected with HIV who enrolled between August 2010 and April 2013 in a primary infection treatment trial. All participants started the trial during acute infection and underwent colonoscopy with biopsies at baseline and after the start of antiretroviral treatment.

Results.

Twenty acutely infected individuals were included in the study (mean age, 33 years; range, 20–54 years). All participants were male who reported having receptive anal sex as an HIV risk factor. Nine individuals (45%) had at least 1 finding by colorectal pathology; 1 person had 2 diagnoses (diverticulosis and focal active proctitis). The histopathological findings revealed anal dysplasia in 3 cases: 2 had high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) and 1 had low-grade AIN. Two persons had a colorectal polyp, 1 hyperplastic and 1 adenomatous. Three persons were diagnosed with diverticulosis, and 2 persons were diagnosed with proctitis, including 1 with focal active proctitis and 1 with cytomegalovirus proctitis.

Conclusions.

To our knowledge, this is the first case series report of lower GI disorders in acute HIV-infected individuals. Although the causal relationship remains uncertain, we describe the endoscopic findings that were observed during acute HIV infection among men who have sex with men. Understanding the prevalence of these pathologies may likely shed light on how acute HIV infection damages the lower GI tract.

Below:  A 24-year-old male presented with fatigue, malaise, diarrhea and bloating. Colonoscopy demonstrated a 1 cm flat lesion in the distal rectum with pathology showing anal intraepithelial neoplasia II

Below:  A 28-year-old male presented with fatigue and loose stools. Colonoscopy showed a 1 cm sessile, flat lesion in the distal rectum with pathology showing anal intraepithelial neoplasia II

Below:  A 25-year-old male without gastrointestinal symptoms. Colonoscopy showed a 4 mm clean-based rectal ulcer with pathology showing cytomegalovirus proctitis with ulceration

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/twlg7s

By:  Theppharit Panichsillapakit,1 Derek Patel,2 Joanne Santangelo, Douglas D. Richman,2,3,4 Susan J. Little,2 and Davey M. Smith2,4

¹Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

²Departments of Medicine

³Pathology, University of California, San Diego

⁴Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, California, La Jolla

Correspondence: T. Panichsillapakit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2, Wanglang Road, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand (Email: ude.lodiham@nap.tirahppeht).

More at:  https://twitter.com/hiv insight

And: http://twitter.com/Prison Health