Hepatobiliary abnormalities of AIDS.

Liver disease, although usually asymptomatic, is a frequent accompaniment of AIDS. Hepatomegaly and macrosteatosis are prevalent but non-specific findings. Evidence of remote hepatitis B virus infection is extremely common; however, the HBsAg carrier state, chronic active hepatitis, or cirrhosis occur no more frequently in AIDS patients than in the general population. Opportunistic intrahepatic infections (such as MAI, fungi, and CMV) or neoplasms (such as lymphoma or KS) usually reflect a disseminated process; liver involvement generally does not directly cause morbidity or result in death. Although biochemical liver tests are commonly elevated in the AIDS population, alkaline phosphatase has proved to be the most specific enzyme for infiltrative processes. Percutaneous liver biopsy has a high diagnostic yield, although the treatment options are currently limited. Acalculous cholecystitis and biliary tract obstruction have been recently described and probably result from CMV and/or cryptosporidial infection. Radiologic features of papillary stenosis and/or sclerosing cholangitis have been demonstrated. In contrast to hepatic parenchymal disease, these entities may be amenable to surgical or endoscopic therapeutic maneuvers.