GALLBLADDER AND BILIARY-TRACT DISEASE IN AIDS

Biliary disease occurs in a subset of AIDS patients with CD4 counts of less than 100 per mm(3). These patients present with right upper quad rant and epigastric pain, cholestasis, and usually abnormal findings o n imaging. In 75% of patients, an associated opportunistic infection c an be identified. In patients with biliary disease, pain is often reli eved following endoscopic sphincterotomy, whereas cholecystectomy prov ides pain relief in patients with acalculous cholecystitis.