GASTRIC INVOLVEMENT IN AIDS-ASSOCIATED CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS

Background-Cryptosporidiosis has been shown to be a common cause of di arrhoea in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed individuals. Ther e are very few data on the distribution of Cryptosporidium parvum alon g the gastro-intestinal tract. Aims-To evaluate the location of Crypto sporidium parasites in the digestive tract of patients with AIDS. Meth ods-Gastrointestinal localisation of C parvum was studied in 71 patien ts with AIDS who underwent upper and/or lower endoscopy with biopsy fo r chronic diarrhoeal illness and/or other gastrointestinal disorders o f unexplained origin. Results-Twenty four individuals (33.8%) were pos itive for C parvum, of which 16 (85.9%) had parasites in the gastric e pithelium, Most patients with gastric localisation of C parvum did not show specific symptoms indicating the presence of this parasite in th e stomach. Conclusions-Gastric involvement in AIDS related cryptospori diosis is more frequent than expected, but no clear correlation betwee n gastric location and related clinical and pathological features was observed.