The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39751

Doris V. B�ez, MSc, Mar�a A. G�mez, PhD, Diana Mar�a Fern�ndez, MS, Miriam Vel�zquez, MS, Alejandro Amill, MPH, and Robert F. Hunter, MD. Internal Medicine Department, Retrovirus Research Center, Universidad Central del Caribe, Call Box 60327, Bayam�n, PR 00960-6032, (787) 787-8710, dbaez@uccaribe.edu

Objective: The present study aims to assess differences in key variables between patients with (TP) and without Toxoplasmosis of the brain (non-TP) pertaining to a cohort of (n=1,491) AIDS patients admitted to the HIV Central Registry of the Retrovirus Research Center in P.R. until December 2001 (49% of the entire HIV Central Registry). Methods: Descriptive study of a cohort of patients arriving to health care facilities of Bayam�n, P.R., with criteria of AIDS diagnosis was done. Chi-square (x�) and Median Test were performed to assess the potential significant differences of variables between TP and non-TP group. Results: The median age for patients were 37, with a larger proportion of women in the TP group (28% vs. 25%). Comparisons between TP and non-TP patients revealed a higher proportion of Intravenous Drug User (IDU�s) (57% vs. 49%) (p<0.069). Most patients with TP arrived throughout the hospital facilities while non-TP came mostly from the ambulatory facilities (p<0.001). Median CD4 counts were significantly lower (p=0.0064) in the TP group (49cells/mm� vs. 68cells/mm�). TP patients (n=141) were diagnosed with AIDS by clinical criteria vs. non-TP for half of whom diagnostic was made by immunological criteria (p<0.001). Statistically significant differences in proportions were observed in the use of antiretroviral therapies: (14% TP vs. 30% non-TP) (p<0.001). Night sweats are more frequently reported for by non-TP (34%) vs. TP (49%)(p<0.001). Conclusion: Patients in the TP group are more likely to be IDU�s arriving to the health care facilities with a higher immunocompromise.

Learning Objectives:

• To assess the sociodemographic, risk and clinical profile of patients with HIV infection and Toxoplasmosis of the Brain versus patients with no Toxoplasmosis.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.