Is There a Significant Renal Sonographic Difference between HIV/AIDs Positives and Negatives? A Developing Country Perspective

Background/Objectives: HIV/AIDS is a major health problem in the developing countries. It is a known cause of kidney failure especially in patients with HIV-Associated Nephropathy (HIVAN). Ultrasonography is a cheap and readily available imaging modality that is invaluable in evaluating the kidneys. Its value in pathological inference of HIV-associated renal diseases in developing countries is well known. Renal diseases in HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries are often underdiagnosed and often identified only at its end stage. In this study, we aim to identify, document and correlate the pre-intervention sonographic features of diseased kidneys of adult HIV/AIDS patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years.

Methods: This study was conducted as a prospective & descriptive study to assess the sonographic features in kidneys of 219 HIV-seropositive adults aged between the ages of 18 and 65 years; matched (age & sex), with 219 controls. A 3.5-5.0 MHz curvilinear transducer on a mobile ‘ALOKA’ ultrasound machine was used in the study. Comparison of the findings between HIV-seropositive adults and the controls was done using the chi-square and student T-test analysis to determine any statistical significant difference.

Results: Of 219 HIV+ patients studied, 149(68%) were females with an overall mean age of 38.36 years. The modal age group was the 30 – 39 years with a frequency of 94(42.9%). Observed significant features of HIVAN include nephromegaly, increased parenchymal echogenicity and decreased corticomedullary differentiation.

Conclusion: The renal sonographic findings in HIV-seropositive research participants are similar to those from other studies within and outside Nigeria. Ultrasound can be a useful tool in the management and care of HIV/AIDS patients.