Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to retrospectively analyze HIV/AIDS cases admitted to our clinic.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively 78 HIV/AIDS cases that have been followed in our clinic between 1996-2012 based on epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings.

Results: The cases included in the study comprised 63 (80.8%) men and 15 (19.2%) females. Mean age was 40.4±11.6 (20-68) (mean±standard deviation, ranges). It was found that 57 (73%) cases were infected by sexual transmission. Transmission route was renal transplantation for 1 case and drug addiction for 5 cases. Eleven cases were prisoners and 5 of them were intravenous drug users. Initial CD4+ T cells were detected 350/µl or lower for 36 (46.2%) cases. Opportunistic infections were diagnosed in 23 (29.4%) cases and 11 of which were oral candidiasis, 5 were gastroenteritis and 5 were herpes zoster infection. Lymphoma was diagnosed in 2 cases. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was given to 49 (62.8%) cases. Our choice was zidovudine + lamivudine + lopinavir/ritonavir combination for initial treatment in 15 cases (30.6%). Non-adherence to ART was detected in 13 (16.6%) cases and side effects were found in 12 (15.4%) cases as a cause of non-adherence.

Conclusions: HIV/AIDS is an important health public problem in our country as in the rest of the world. Increasing numbers of patients have been observed in recent years. Side effects must be followed for success of treatment and patient compliance.