M. Bonacini, Medical management of benign oesophageal disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, DIG LIVER D, 33(3), 2001, pp. 294-300
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.