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

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pattern of opportunistic infections (OIs) and non-infectious opportunistic diseases in hospitalized HIV-infected patients in Zahedan, southeast of Iran.

METHODS: 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.

RESULTS: 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).

CONCLUSION: 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.