DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i06.061

Pages: 2377-2382

Abdominal involvement in HIV/AIDS is quite common. It is second to pulmonary disease. In resource limited countries, Ultrasound is widely available hence if used effectively can help to reduce abdominal complications due to this disease. We therefore aimed at determining pattern of abdominal sonographic abnormalities among patients with HIV/AIDS. This is also a less studied area at our set-up. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study; where by 265 adults with HIV-AIDS, were studied. All patients had CD4 counts taken and underwent abdominal ultrasound examination at Radiology Department, Muhimbili National Hospital. Liver, Spleen and Kidney sonographic findings were documented and analysis was done using SPSS. Abdominal abnormalities were found in 172 (64.9%) patients. The prevalence was significantly higher in patients who were not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (72.2%) p<0.01. Patients who had CD4 count of less than 50/μl were noted to have higher prevalence of sonographic abdominal abnormalities (76.7%) as compared to those with CD4 count of greater or equal to 50/μl (62.6%). Liver was the most affected organ (36.6%). Enlarged kidneys and increased renal echogenicity was more prevalent on patients who were not on ART (8.1%) (p value<0.05). Liver, spleen and renal sonographic abnormalities are common in patients with HIV-AIDS. Patients not on ART and those with CD4 count less than 50/µl have higher frequency of abdominal abnormalities. Enlarged kidneys are more common in patients not on ART. There is a significant relationship between abdominal abnormalities, CD4 count and ART status.