[Esophageal candidiasis in HIV positive patients. Lack of statistical correlation with CD4 lymphocytes].

One hundred and twenty-nine upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were performed between November, 1986, and November, 1990, at the Fort-de-France Hospital (Martinique), on 92 patients who were seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Blood samples were drawn at the same time as 75 endoscopic examinations and the number of CD4 lymphocytes/mm3 was determined. The incidence of esophageal candidiasis was 23.1% and lesions were observed in 17.2% of the endoscopies performed systematically at the time that the patient's seropositivity was first established. No significant relationship was found between the presence of esophageal candidiasis and peripheral blood CD4 lymphocyte counts.