HIV diarrhea

Background

  • Chronic diarrhea (over 28 days); can be presenting symptom of AIDS
  • Less common after introduction of HAART
  • Acute diarrhea common with normal and low CD4

HIV Associated Diseases by CD4 Level

CD4 Count Stage Diseases
>500 Early disease Similar to non-immunocompromised patients (Consider HAART medication side-effects)
200-500 Intermediate disease Kaposi's sarcoma, Candida, bacterial respiratory infections
<200 Late disease PCP, central line infection, MAC, TB, CMV, drug fever, sinusitis, endocarditis, lymphoma, histoplasmosis, cryptococcus, PML
<100 Very late disease Cryptococcus, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasmosis
<50 Final Stage CMV retinitis, MAC

Clinical Features

  • Ascertain whether small bowel vs large bowel diarrhea
  • Weight loss is concerning for infiltrative disease, opportunistic infection
  • Receptive anal sex - consider local HSV, Gonorrhea, chlamydia, entamoeba

Differential Diagnosis

CD4 200-500

CD4<200

CD4 <100

CD4 <50

HIV associated conditions

Evaluation

  • Many workups will be non diagnostic
  • Start with stool WBCs, cultures, Ova and Parasites x3, C. Dif toxin
  • Acid fast smear to assess for Cryptosporidium, Isospora, and Cyclospora
  • CD4<100 - Microsporidium more likely, test with Trichrome staining
  • Blood cultures with fungal/acid fast if disseminated disease a concern
  • Endoscopy
    • Indicated if workup is negative and severely immunocompromised
    • Small bowel biopsy to look for MAC, lymphoma, or Microsporidiosis
    • Guaiac positive stools and weight loss: consider Kaposi Sarcoma of bowel, diagnosis with colonoscopy
  • Imaging
    • Generally not helpful, but could be indicated if severe tenderness, peritonitis, concern for biliary pathology, obstructing lesions.

Management

  • Electrolyte and volume repletion
  • Early consultation of HIV service
  • Nutrition replacement in chronic small bowel disease
  • HAART
  • Generally, avoid starting antibiotics unless have specific target
  • Antimotility agents
    • Loperamide
    • crofelemer (blocks chloride secretion and approved for HIV diarrhea) 125mg po bid

Disposition

  • If near normal CD4 and symptoms consistent with small bowel disease (copious, watery), may be managed as outpatient if no other admission indication
  • Severe dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, malnutrition, fever, and hemorrhagic diarrhea all may require admission or at minimum very close HIV follow up

See Also

References

  1. Gutteridge, David L MD, MPH, Egan, Daniel J. MD. The HIV-Infected Adult Patient in The Emergency Department: The Changing Landscape of the Disease. Emergency Medicine Practice: An Evidence-Based Approach to Emergency Medicine. Vol 18, Num 2. Feb 2016.