[Assessment of nutritional status and of intestinal absorption in asymptomatic patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with and without chronic hepatitis].

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.

Discussion: 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.