What is the role of empiric therapy for upper GI symptoms in HIV infected patients?
- With improving HIV and AIDS therapies, patient commonly have CD4 counts higher than 200 cells/mL.
- In these patients, an empiric trial of a proton pump inhibitor is reasonable for symptoms consistent with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or other dyspeptic complaints.
- If symptoms do not improve within 1 or 2 weeks, endoscopic evaluation to exclude other causes of disease is mandatory.
