Evaluation of outcomes for patients with AIDS receiving home total parenteral nutrition

This study evaluated the outcomes of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) provided home total parenteral nutrition (HTPN) when specific criteria were used to initiate HTPN. Fifteen males who received HTPN and seven males who consumed only an oral diet were studied. The HTPN patients received an average of 55 kcal.kg-1.d-1 and 2.0 g of protein.kg-1.d-1 from HTPN and oral diet. Non-HTPN patients consumed an average of 35 kcal.kg-1.d-1 and 1.2 g protein.kg-1.d-1. Body weight (BW), lean body mass (LBM), and serum albumin (SA) were measured when HTPN was initiated or initial nutrition counseling was provided to the non-HTPN patients and again at the end of the study period. Over the study period, the HTPN patients gained an average 5.5 kg of BW and 3.0 kg of LBM, whereas the non-HTPN lost an average of 5.0 kg of BW and 3.0 kg of LBM. BW and LBM may be used to assess the response to HTPN in AIDS patients.