CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES OF GRANULOMA INGUINALE IN THE ERA OF ACQUIRED-IMMUNE-DEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

Background and Objectives: Granuloma Inguinale (Gr) is an endemic sexu ally transmitted disease (STD) in India, With increasing prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among patients with STD at a clini c in Mumbai, a study was conducted to determine clinico-epidemiologic features of GI and HIV, Goal: To determine possible interaction betwee n GI and HIV. Study Design: Prospective follow-up of 21 consecutive ca ses (GI in HIV-seropositive individuals) and 29 controls (GI in HN-ser onegative individuals) to determine time to heal, All cases and contro ls received a standard treatment regimen of erythromycin, 2 g po daily , under supervision until healing occurred, Results: Although GI ulcer s at recruitment were not significantly larger among HIV-seropositive individuals as compared with those seen among HIV-seronegative individ uals (mean size 4.4 cm(2) vs. 3.6 sq(2); odds ratio [OR] 1.22, confide nce interval [CI] .95, 0.63, 2.40; p = 0.52), the former took longer t ime to heal completely (mean 25.7 days vs, 16.8 days; OR 1.82, CI .95, 0.99, 3.36; p = 0.03) and tended to produce greater tissue destructio n (as included in results). Conclusion: These findings are important b ecause slow-healing GI ulcers with underlying HIV infection, which may be caused by their interaction, will lead to increased transmission o f both the infections.