ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Jaundice and associated liver disease are frequently diagnosed in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The assessment of jaundice causes, etiology, and outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with liver disease have not been addressed. The present study aimed to evaluate jaundice and associated liver disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 272 human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-infected patients with liver disease at the Department of Gastroenterology AK CMH/ Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayad Al Nahyan Hospital Rawalakot, Medicine Medical Unit A, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar and department of Medicine, Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi for duration between 5th January 2020 and 5th December 2020. Jaundice was defined as a serum bilirubin concentration of 3 mg/dL or higher. The etiology of jaundice was determined using a pattern of liver disease biochemistry test, radiographic studies, liver biopsy and clinical follow-up.

Results: About 272 HIV-infected patients were evaluated liver disease; the prevalence of jaundice was 46 (16.9%). Drug-induced hepatitis was the more prevalent cause in Jaundice 19 (41.3%) followed by neoplasms in 14 (30.4%) patients. Out of 14 neoplasms, the extrahepatic and intrahepatic disease was present in 8 and 6 patients respectively. Alcoholic liver disease was present in 5 (10.9%). Various potential causes were present in three patients. The use of abdominal ultrasonography and CT was beneficial in determining the fundamental cause of the infection. five of these patients died as a result of liver disease.

Conclusion: Jaundice is rare and can be caused by a number of opportunistic and non-opportunistic etiologies in AIDS. The most common cause is drug-induced hepatitis, which can be fatal. Long-term survival was dismal.