Metabolic Acidosis in AIDS Patients

Background and AimsMetabolic acidosis (MA) is a frequent and serious complication in HIV-infected patients. The aim of the study is to compare patients with and without MA associated with HIV.MethodsPatients were retrospectively studied involving all HIV-infected patients with blood gas analysis performed during hospital stay admitted to a single hospital between April 2004 and July 2006. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 10.0 for Windows.ResultsIncluded in the study were 159 HIV patients, 72 cases (45.3%) with MA and 87 cases (54.7%) without. The comparison of both groups showed a mean arterial pH of 7.24 ± 0.08 vs. 7.44 ± 0.05, HCO3 12 ± 5.7 vs. 21 ± 5.1 mEq/L, serum urea 81 ± 68 mg/dL vs. 39 ± 46 mg/dL and serum creatinine 2.7 ± 2.6 mg/dL vs. 1.2 ± 1.9 mg/dL in MA-HIV and non-MA-HIV, respectively (p <0.05). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was being administered to 38 subjects (52.8%) in MA-HIV group and 45 (51.7%) in non-MA-HIV group (p = 0.57). There was no association between the use of ART and MA. Mortality was higher in patients with acidosis (52.7 vs. 17.2%, p <0.0001).ConclusionsIn the present study, MA was associated with acute kidney injury and increased mortality. There was no association between the use of ART and MA.