[Inflammatory periproctal and anorectal conditions in HIV infections]

Twenty-nine homosexual patients with anorectal symptoms were investigated by sigmoidoscopy. Nineteen patients were anti-HIV antibody positive; in this group severe haemorrhagic proctitis was diagnosed in seven cases and purulent cryptitis with abscess formation and fistulation in three cases. All patients showed a reduced OKT 4/OKT 8 ratio (below 1.0). It is concluded that the immunodeficient condition of HIV patients is the essential pathogenic factor for the occurrence of the anorectal inflammations observed.