Concomitant active Crohn's disease and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is accompanied by depressed CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts. These cells seem to play a role in the inflammatory processes in Crohn's disease. It has even been speculated that depression of CD4+ T-lymphocytes in HIV infection may cure Crohn's disease. Here we describe a 41-year-old drug-addicted man with a 9-year history of Crohn's disease. HIV infection was diagnosed 8 years ago. At present he has stage-C3 HIV infection. He was admitted because of weight loss and chronic diarrhea with rectal blood and mucus discharge. Crohn's disease was confirmed endoscopically and histologically. Infectious diarrhea known to mimic Crohn's disease in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was excluded. In summary, we describe a patient with AIDS (CD4 count, 84/microliter) and active Crohn's disease, showing that both illnesses can occur simultaneously.