Inappropriately low aldosterone concentrations in adults with AIDS-related diarrhoea in Zambia: a study of response to fluid challenge

Abstract

Background: Chronic diarrhoea is one of the most debilitating consequences of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa and it carries a high mortality rate. We report unexpectedly low concentrations of circulating aldosterone in 12 patients (6 men, 6 women) in the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, who all had diarrhoea for over one month. Changes in serum electrolytes, blood pressure, Karnofsky score and serum aldosterone concentration were being monitored during a short study of responses to saline infusion (3 litres/24 h) over 72 hours.

Correlation of baseline hormonal disorders with immunological failure and mortality in male HIV patients during follow-up

“…[32,33] Circulating aldosterone concentrations were inappropriately low in patients with AIDS-related diarrhea, which is associated with profound electrolyte deficiencies and general adrenal failure. [34] However, in this study, there was no difference between the aldosterone concentrations of HIV patients and those of healthy subjects. Higher levels of renin in the study's HIV patients did not correlate with HIV-RNA load, which contradicts with previous reports.…”

Nutritional status is the major factor affecting grip strength of African HIV patients before and during antiretroviral treatment

“…It is possible that in the present analysis lower SBP to some extent reflects ongoing inflammation which, through a general loss of cardiovascular autonomic tone, is contributing to frailty. We also have evidence that low SBP in HIV‐infected adults may reflect adrenal insufficiency which would be predicted to affect grip strength .…”

Evaluation of electrolyte imbalance among tuberculosis patients receiving treatments in Southwestern Nigeria

“…13 This can be attributed to the loss of Na + through diarrhoea presented by most of AIDs infected patients. 13,14 At the same time, decreased Na + observed in patients on drug than control patients, and those patients on drugs than new cases pulmonary TB patients, and TB co infections with HIV patients could be due to the fact, that loss of water and salt leads to dehydration. 14 These are consistent with findings from this study in which 14 (70%) of patients taking drug experience vomiting.…”