Chronic Venous Insufficiency in human immunodeficiency virus positive patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy

Introduction: The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic and progressive disease with an important worldwide epidemiological impact. Likewise, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) also represents an extremely relevant pathology. There are no studies correlating both of them. Aim: Characterize human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) as to the presence of varicose veins and CVI of the lower limbs. Method: A descriptive transversal study. 106 HIV positive patients were evaluated. The majority of the patients were assisted in an infectious disease clinic. The non-parametric test of association qui-square (X2) was used. Results:The time of HIV infection was significant associated with the symptom cramps (P = 0.049). The time of HAART showed a significant association in relation to tingling sensation (P= 0.048). Regarding the time of use of zidovudine, a significant association was observed with tingling sensation (P< 0.01) and edema (P= 0.017). A significant association with referred edema (P= 0.016) was also shown. There was also a significant increase in the prevalence of burning sensation after 3 years of lamivudine (P= 0.028). There was a significant association between the use of efavirenz and fatigue in the lower limbs and a significant increase in tingling (P= 0.03). Conclusion: This is the first study investigating the presence of CVI of the lower limbs in HIV infected patients undergoing HAART. Further studies must be encouraged in order to elucidate the real role of the HIV infection and HAART on the worsening of CVI in this group.