EOSINOPHILIA IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

The prevalence and significance of peripheral blood eosinophilia in pa tients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were evalu ated. Fifteen of 119 consecutive patients had absolute eosinophil coun ts of > 450/mm(3). During a mean follow-up period of 419 days eosinoph ilia could be identified as secondary to a parasitic infection in only one patient. Correlation with disease stage showed a higher rate of a dvanced disease in patients with absolute eosinophilia. In a multivari ate regression analysis, only low CD4+ cell counts, not the CDC diseas e stage or the use of antiretroviral therapy or primary prophylaxis, c ontributed significantly to the prevalence of eosinophilia. It is conc luded that expen-sive laboratory investigations in asymptomatic patien ts with advanced-stage HIV disease are neither necessary nor cost effe ctive.