Abstract

ORTEGA GARCIA, M.ª P.  and  MARTI BONMATI, E.. Assessment of nutritional status and of intestinal absorption in asymptomatic patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with ans without chronic hepatitis. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2006, vol.21, n.4, pp.542-546. ISSN 1699-5198.

Objective: To compare nutritional status and intestinal absorption in asymptomatics HIV patients co-infected or not with hepatitis C virus. Material and methods: 15 patients (9 men and 6 women) HIV seropositive in A1-A2 stage were classified in two groups, A were asymptomatics HIV patients and B were asymptomatic HIV patients with chronic hepatitis C. Nutritional status was determined by weight, height,% ideal weight, body mass index, triceps skinfold, midarm muscle circumference, grip dynamometry and body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance. Intestinal absorption was assesses with D-xilosa test in urine collected over 5 hours after fasting ingestion of 5 grams of D-xylosa. Statistical analysis was made with SPSS (v.11.0). Results: Not statistically significative differences were found in the nutritional status between the two groups of patients. Asymptomatics HIV patients with chronic hepatitis C eliminate less D-xylosa in urine than patients without chronic hepatitis C, being this difference statistically significative. Three out of the eight patients (37,5%) of group B presented malabsorption (< 1,2 grams of D-xylosa in urine). In group A any patient had malabsorption. Discusion: In our study, asymptomatic HIV patients have a good nutritional status, without differences between patients co-infected or not with hepatitis C virus. Intestinal absorption is altered in patients co-infected and this should be considered because of its potential clinical consequences.

Keywords : Nutricional status; Intestinal absorption; HIV; HCV.

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