Splenectomy in patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex [see comments]

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Splenectomy in patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex [see comments]

AIDS. 1993 Aug;7(8):1063-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/94000535
Kemeny MM; Cooke V; Melester TS; Halperin IC; Burchell AR; Yee JP; Mills CB; Department of Surgery, St Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center,; New York City, New York.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of splenectomy in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of patients admitted to St Vincent's Hospital who had splenectomies and were HIV-positive. SETTING: All patients were treated at St Vincent's Hospital, New York City, New York, USA. PATIENTS: Only patients who were HIV-positive and who had had a splenectomy at St Vincent's Hospital were included. INTERVENTION: All patients had a splenectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effect of the splenectomy in these HIV-positive patients was studied with respect to their operative morbidity and mortality, platelet counts, overall survival and the development of new opportunistic infections. RESULTS: All patients who did not have AIDS but did have thrombocytopenia responded to splenectomy in terms of their thrombocytopenia. None of them had an accelerated progression to AIDS. Most patients with AIDS and thrombocytopenia responded to splenectomy in terms of correcting their thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: Splenectomy as a treatment for thrombocytopenia is successful not only in HIV-positive patients without AIDS, but also in AIDS patients. However, in patients with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma or Mycobacterium avium intracellulare, splenectomy may not be a factor for survival.

Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS/*THERAPY Adult AIDS-Related Complex/DRUG THERAPY/*THERAPY Human Male Middle Age Platelet Count Postoperative Complications Retrospective Studies *Splenectomy Thrombocytopenia/ETIOLOGY/THERAPY JOURNAL ARTICLE
Comment in: AIDS 1994 Jan;8(1):138 Comment in: AIDS 1994 Jun;8(6):850-1
940130
M9410792

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