HIV enteropathy--a challenge in diagnosis and management

The gastrointestinal tract is the largest lymphoid reservoir of the body and is subject to damage that compromises the cellular and humoral defense mechanism. With the increasing numbers of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), health-care practitioners need to be familiar with infections that affect the gastrointestinal tract. These infections cause severe morbidity and sometimes even death in immunocompromised patients. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal infections in the immunocompromised patient.