HEPATOBILIARY ABNORMALITIES ON SONOGRAPHY IN CHILDREN WITH HIV-INFECTION

Our purpose was to characterize the spectrum of hepatobiliary abnormal ities on sonography in children with vertically transmitted HIV infect ion. Abdominal sonograms were performed on 41 children with HIV infect ion and correlated with clinical and histopathologic data. Hepatobilia ry abnormalities were noted in 26 (63%) children. Hepatomegaly (n = 13 ) and abnormal hepatic echotexture (n = 13) were the most common abnor malities noted. Preexisting AIDS-related infections or neoplasms were noted significantly more frequently in children with hepatic or biliar y abnormalities on sonography (18/26, 69%) than in children without ab normalities (5/15, 33%) (P = 0.0001). Most children with hepatobiliary abnormalities on sonography who underwent hepatic tissue sampling, ho wever, did not have evidence of acute infection or neoplasia. Hepatobi liary abnormalities are frequently noted on sonography in children wit h HIV infection. Hepatomegaly and abnormal hepatic echotexture are the most frequent sonographic findings and are usually nonspecific.