Ultrasonography Appearance of the Gallbladder in HIV patients at Khartoum City

Abstract

Background: Ultrasonography is a versatile imaging tool, which can evaluate most of the abdominal organs affected by the disease; furthermore, it can guide biopsies allowing the cytohistological and microbiological investigations need to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Objectives: To study the songraphic appearance of the gallbladder wall thickness in the patients with HIV and AIDS, and to describe the findings and evaluate the clinical utility of gallbladder ultrasonography in HIV/AIDS patients in Khartoum HIV Organization and Ibrahim Malik Teaching Hospital. Methodology: This is a prospective descriptive cross sectional study conducted in the period from November 2011 to February 2012 at Ibraheem Malik Teaching Hospital and Organization of patients survive with HIV/AIDS at Khartoum city. Hepatobiliary ultrasonography was performed for all patients after their consent. The data recorded in questionnaire and analyzed by computer to obtain the results. Results: A total of 54 patients with HIV/AIDS were enrolled in this study, of them 26(48.1%) patients were males and 28 (51.9%) patients were females. Ultrasound findings were gallbladder contractility in 53 (98.1%) patients, impaired contractility after meal in 1 (1.9%) patient, gallbladder thickness >3 mm in 3 (5.6%), chollocystities in 3 (5.6%) patients, stones in 1 (1.9%) patient, renal problem in 4 (7.4%) patients, liver diseases in 1 (1.9%) patient. Conclusion: Ultrasound is very sensitive modality and has important role in assessing the gallbladder in HIV/AIDS patients. The sonographic findings in HIV/AIDS Sudanese patients are comparable to the previous literature review.