Risk factors for recurrent bleeding and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients with acute lower GI hemorrhage.

Background: Little is known about lower gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected population. Our aim was to determine the underlying causes, the clinical outcome, and the risk factors for recurrent bleeding and mortality in HIV-infected patients with acute LGIH.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of consecutive HIV-infected patients with acute lower GI hemorrhage who were evaluated with endoscopy from January 1992 through January 1997 at Bellevue Hospital Center.

Results: During the 5-year study period, 312 patients with acute lower GI hemorrhage underwent colonoscopy (n = 233) or flexible sigmoidoscopy (n = 79). Cytomegalovirus colitis (25.3%), lymphoma (12.2%), and idiopathic colitis (12.2%) were the most common causes identified. Within 30 days of presentation, recurrent bleeding occurred in 17.6% of patients. Independent predictors of recurrent bleeding included the presence of at least one comorbid illness, a hemoglobin level of less than 8 gm/dL, a platelet count of less than 100,000/mm3, and major stigmata of hemorrhage. The 30-day mortality from lower GI hemorrhage was 14.4%, and the presence of comorbid disease, recurrence of bleeding, and surgical intervention were found to be the only independent predictors of mortality in this patient population.

Conclusions: Acute lower GI hemorrhage in HIV-infected patients is most commonly caused by cytomegalovirus colitis and is associated with a high short-term morbidity and mortality.