Intestinal Absorption and Permeability in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients

Background: Impaired intestinal function could account for diarrhoea and weight loss, which are common features of advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Methods: We assessed intestinal permeability to lactulose and mannitol and absorption of D-xylose in 96 HIV-infected patients (group I: asymptomatic subjects (CDC-A); group II: symptomatic subjects (CDC-B or C) without body weight loss and/or diarrhoea; group III: 25 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (CDC-C) with severe body weight loss and/or diarrhoea) and 10 healthy subjects as controls. Results: An incremental decrease in urinary D-xylose recoveries was observed, with all groups statistically different from each other. Impaired intestinal permeability was only found in patients of group III (statistically different from all other groups). Conclusions: These findings suggest a loss of intestinal functional absorptive surface as HIV disease progresses. This process may be present at the early stage of infection. Impaire...