Medical management of benign oesophageal disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Oesophageal diseases are common in human immunodeficiency virus infection, and Candida is the most frequent cause. Empiric therapy with oral antifunga l therapy is cost-effective in most patients presenting with oesophageal sy mptoms. The "gold standard" of diagnosis, endoscopy with brushings and biop sies, is reserved for non-responders within 2 weeks. Since the use of empir ic antifungal drugs, the percentage of viral and idiopathic ulcers has incr eased. The latter frequently recur after treatment, and have been associate d with the development of oesophageal strictures. More information is neede d on the role of maintenance therapy particularly for viral infections.