Human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy in the Bronx: Low prevalence in a predominantly Hispanic population

Reports of human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) occu rring in Hispanics, females and heterosexuals are scarce. We reviewed 858 c harts from our total HIV population to determine the prevalence and epidemi ology of HIVAN at our center, and to evaluate the renal and patient surviva l among individual groups, according to race, sex and HIV risk factor. The prevalence of HIVAN was low (1.9%), relative to other centers (4-13 %). Alt hough Hispanics accounted for 56% of the HIV population, only 38% of HIVAN patients were Hispanic. The absolute risk of HIVAN in blacks was 3.6%, and in Hispanics was 1.3 %. The relative risk of blacks vs. Hispanics was 2.8% (p < 0.04). Women and men were represented equally in both the HIVAN and HI V populations. The mean ( SE) rate of decline in glomerular filtration rate was 3.7 +/- 0.9 ml/min/month, and patient survival following the onset of HIVAN was 23.6 +/- 4.8 months. We found no difference in renal or patient s urvival between individual groups. In summary, the risk of HIVAN in Hispani cs is similar to that for whites. Male sex is not an independent risk facto r. Both renal and patient survival are similar in blacks and Hispanics, and in men compared to women.