We studied 92 HIV-positive patients retrospectively between January 1994 and December 1996 and prospectively from January to July 1997. We determined serum creatinine and 24-hour proteinuria. The median age of the patients was 22 (+/- 4) years and most patients were aged between 25 and 45 years. The sex ratio was 2.17 and most patients were infected with HIV-1 (67.39%). Renal failure occurred in 27.16% of cases, due to changes in blood pressure and infectious diseases. Three patients had a nephrotic syndrome caused by HIV. Thirty-eight cases of lung infection, ten of urinary infection, twelve infections of the digestive system and fifteen cases of skin infection were recorded. The median duration of stay in hospital was 23 (+/- 8) days and the median cost of hospitalization was 147,450 F CFA (+/- 31,057). The treatment given was purely symptomatic and three patients died during the study. One patient suffered chronic renal failure and is now undergoing hemodialysis. Preventive treatment would be of great value.