Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. My sister has been sick for several years now. Her systems have
ranged from heart failure to the latest is kidney failure. All
this time no one has thought of testing her for the AIDS virus.
Now she is hospitalized, due to the kidney failure. She had a
pace maker put in last year, and they were worried about her
heart because she gets excited really easily. But nonetheless,
they just tested her for HIV and found that she has full-blown
AIDS. And she has developed pnuemonia again.
What can we expect
now?
Ross Slotten, M.D.
Klein and Slotten Medical Associates
Private Practice in Family Medicine
With a special interest in HIV disease
Your sister's case is complicated because she has kidney failure and AIDS, both very serious diseases. It is not clear what caused her kidney failure, though it might be related to her HIV infection. Whatever the cause, the kidney failure probably can not be cured, and your sister will require lifetime dialysis. On the other her hand, her HIV infection should be controllable. The medications can be adjusted because of her kidney failure. Hopefully, she is seeing a doctor that specializes in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
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