Etiology and Contributing Factors of Cavitary Pulmonary Lesions in HIV Infected Patients

 This study aimed to investigate the etiology and contributing factors of cavitary pulmonary lesions in HIV infected patients. 

 In this study, 844 HIV infected patients with a total of 1000 admissions were investigated at Masih Daneshvari Hospital from Aug 2010 to Oct 2019. After excluding the missing data and distorted documentation, 746 cases and 878 admission episodes finally underwent statistical analysis. The CXRs were observed thoroughly and the cavitary lesions were identified. Eventually, demographic data, diagnostic information, and laboratory findings were extracted and analyzed.

 Of the 878 episodes of hospitalization, cavitary pulmonary lesions were observed in 145 documents. The most prevalent etiology was TB with 105 cases (72.5%). After that, Pneumocystis jiroveci and septic embolism were responsible for a further 7.6% and 5.6% of the total lung cavities, respectively. 58.5% of the cavities were present in a single lobe, with men being affected in 90.2% of the cases. The upper lobes were the most common site of involvement in the lungs [42.9% for Left Upper Lobe (LUL) and 52.3% for Right Upper Lobe (RUL)]. The rate of definitive diagnosis was significantly higher in patients affected with cavitary lesions (82.8%) in comparison with the unaffected (74.8%) (p=0.001). No significant difference in demographics, HIV and ART status, CD4+ cell count, viral load, and mortality was evident between the two groups. 

 The most common etiology of cavitary lesions in HIV positive patients was attributable to TB, PJP, and septic embolism respectively. Cavitary lesions were more prevalent in males and mainly tend to involve the upper zones of pulmonary parenchyma.