NONMALABSORPTIVE MECHANISMS OF DIARRHEA IN HIV-INFECTION

More than 50% of AIDS patients suffer from diarrhea, the cause of whic h is unexplained in 15-40%. In 60-85% a potential cause for diarrhea c ould be found but the pathogenic relevance often remains unclear. In t his paper we review the current knowledge about the nonmalabsorptive m echanisms for diarrhea in HIV infection from a pathophysiologic point of view and we show evidence that the diarrhea in advanced HIV infecti on by HIV per se could be caused by a leak flux mechanism due to an ep ithelial barrier defect.