Emphysema in HIV Positive Patient: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Conduct | Insight Medical Publishing

The increase of cases of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in HIV positive patients is a reality since the TAAE era. In its beginning, infectious respiratory diseases were the most frequent and prevalent. Different factors were associated to this entity such as the HIV virus itself, antiretroviral treatment, tobacco habit, the use of marijuana, anemia, coinfection with HCV, BMI, nadir and current value of CD4 and viral load. The control of the patient through dyspnea assessment scales and complementary studies such as spirometry, chest CT, 6- minute walk test and carbon dioxide diffusion test have provided tools to contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the complications inherent in COPD. Our patient presented a severe respiratory obstruction with FCV less than 70%, FEV1 less than 80%, FEV1/CFV ratio less than 70%, diffusion test less than 80% and central emphysema and paralobulillar CT. Its CD4 values and viral load within normal parameters.