INTRODUCTION: Malnutrition with resulting weight loss is present in the majority of patient with HIV infection and may lead to impaired organ function, inability to perform activities of daily living and decreased quality of life. Recent work suggests that the primary contributor to weight loss is decreased energy intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of nutritional support to patients at RBH. METHOD: A number of patients had received nutritional support due to failure to meet calculated energy requirements. Their hospital records were reviewed. RESULTS: 20 patients (18 male, 2 female, mean 38.5 +/- 9.9 years) who had received nutritional support on 28 occasions were eligible for inclusion. Total Parenteral Nutrition was used on 11 occasions, Enteral feeds on 14 and 3 patients received a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) for long term enteral feeding. Apart from patients with PEGs all patients were hospitalised with opportunistic infections. 80% had CD4 counts of < 100. At the start of nutrition support patients had lost a mean of 18.5 (Range 2.7-31.4%) of their normal body weight and their serum albumin was 30.8 +/- 6.4 g/l. Mean duration of support was 33.6 (Range 5-376). In 20/28 occasions patients maintained or gained weight. CONCLUSION: In 71% of the occasions of nutritional support of the HIV infected patients studied, either further weight loss was prevented or weight gain was achieved. Further studies are necessary to determine the composition of weight gained.

Adult AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY CD4 Lymphocyte Count Enteral Nutrition Female Human HIV Infections/COMPLICATIONS/IMMUNOLOGY/*THERAPY Male Middle Age Nutrition Disorders/BLOOD/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Nutritional Support Parenteral Nutrition, Total Serum Albumin/METABOLISM Weight Loss ABSTRACT CLINICAL TRIAL

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