[Characteristics of bleeding from esophageal-gastric varices in patients with HIV infection]

Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatotropic viruses (hepatitis B and C) is frequent because the routes of infection are similar. Liver disease appears earlier in these patients and progression to cirrhosis and its complications is faster. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of bleeding from esophageal-gastric varices in patients with HIV.

We retrospectively analyzed 258 consecutive episodes of bleeding from esophageal-gastric varices in cirrhotic patients between January 1996 and January 2001, of which 20 episodes occurred in patients with HIV (7.8%).

The mean age was significantly lower in patients with HIV infection and all presented hepatitis C infection. The hepatic venous pressure gradient was higher in patients with HIV (22.8 3.4 mmHg vs 19.6 5,4 mmHg; p = 0.05). No differences in the severity of liver disease (Child-Pugh), transfusion requirements, treatment performed, initial hemostasis, early recurrence, or rescue treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) were found. The development of complications (bacterial infections, hepatic encephalopathy and ascites), hospital stay and mortality were also similar. Mortality was not influenced by HIV stage. Bleeding from esophageal-gastric varices in patients with HIV infection has a similar form of presentation and clinical course with treatment to that in non-cirrhotic patients, despite a higher degree of portal hypertension.

The presence of HIV infection should not modify diagnostic or therapeutic attitudes to bleeding from esophageal-gastric varices.