Body composition in HIV-infected children: relations with disease progression and survival.

Background: Malnutrition is common in HIV-infected children, but the body compartment that is most affected has been ill defined.

Objectives: Our objectives were to 1) compare the fat-free mass (FFM) of children with HIV infection with that of control children, 2) assess the contribution of FFM to body weight in HIV-infected children compared with that of control children, and 3) study the relations between body weight, FFM, and mortality.

Design: A cross-sectional study was performed in 86 HIV-infected and 113 uninfected children (mean ages: 6.

Pancreatic dysfunction and its association with fat malabsorption in HIV infected children.

Background: Nutrient malabsorption frequently occurs in HIV infected children, but very few studies have investigated exocrine pancreatic digestive capacity in these cases.

Aims: To investigate pancreatic function in HIV infected children and to determine whether faecal fat loss, a prominent feature of intestinal dysfunction, is associated with pancreatic dysfunction.

Patients: Forty seven children with HIV infection without apparent pancreatic disease and 45 sex and age matched healthy controls.

Serum pancreatic enzymes in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children. A collaborative study of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Background: Numerous studies have shown pancreatic disease in adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but there are very few reports on pediatric patients. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of increased serum pancreatic enzyme levels and their relationship to clinical manifestations of acute pancreatitis in HIV-infected children.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive, symptomatic HIV-infected children (24 male; median age, 7.

Antibiotic and cholestyramine treatment of chronic diarrhea in HIV-infected children.

Background: Chronic diarrhea is a common feature in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and is associated with an increased risk of death in these patients. To describe the effects of an empiric treatment on diarrhea and body weight on HIV-infected pediatric patients.

Patients: Eleven vertically HIV-infected children with chronic diarrhea were treated with oral gentamicin, metronidazole and cholestyramine for 3 to 5 days.