Liver biopsy is not useful in the diagnosis of mycobacterial infections in patients who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
P M RogerPierre Dellamonica

Abstract

Liver biopsy (LB) has been advocated for the detection of mycobacterial infections in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To determine the effect of the use of this procedure on survival, we compared it terms of yield with histological findings and noninvasive microbiological procedures. We reviewed the cases of 98 patients who underwent 106 LBs as part of the diagnostic screening for fever of unknown origin. LB revealed 17 cases of mycobacterial infection. For all but one patient, the results of at least one noninvasive procedure were positive. In 85 cases where infections were not diagnosed by LB, 17 had infections documented by other procedures. When all culture results are considered, the mean (+/- SD) incubation time to the first positive culture was 15 +/- 5 days, whereas the mean (+/- SD) incubation time to the first positive culture of an LB specimen was 28 +/- 9 days. The survival time was not significantly increased for patients who underwent LB and had positive Ziehl-Neelsen-stained smears; these patients survived a mean (+/- SD) of 12 +/- 11 months, whereas patients with negative smears survived a mean (+/- SD) of 9 +/- 10 months. Noninvasive studies are preferable to LB for the diagnosis of m...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 15, 1998·Medizinische Klinik·G FätkenheuerV Diehl
Dec 7, 2007·Infectious Disease Clinics of North America·Arnaud HotOlivier Lortholary

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.