scholarly journals Should we perform the serum cryptococcal antigen test in people living with HIV hospitalized due to a community-acquired pneumonia episode?

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-350
Author(s):  
Adriana Paulino Silva ◽  
Carolina Toniolo Zenatti ◽  
Claudia Figueiredo-Mello ◽  
Marinella Della Negra ◽  
Anna S Levin ◽  
...  

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common cause of hospitalization among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH), particularly those with severe immunosuppression. Pulmonary disease due to cryptococcosis is uncommonly reported and likely under-diagnosed. There is scarce information about cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) prevalence in PLWH with CAP. The objectives of this study were to identify among PLWH who were hospitalized with CAP: (i) the prevalence of serum CrAg positivity, (ii) the proportion with asymptomatic vs. symptomatic cryptococcosis; and (iii) the prevalence of serum CrAg positivity in CD4+ T-cell count <100 cells/mm3. We performed a sub-analysis of a prospective cohort of hospitalized adults enrolled into a randomized clinical trial testing therapy for CAP. We included 202 participants who had serum CrAg testing performed. We found a 3.5% prevalence of serum CrAg-positivity overall, being higher (5.7%) in CD4+ T-cell count <100 cells/mm3. Overall, asymptomatic and symptomatic cryptococcosis were present in 2.0% and 1.5%, respectively. This study identifies a target population for CrAg testing: PLWH hospitalized with diagnosis of CAP, particularly those with CD4+ T-cell count <100 cells/mm3 where the number needed to test was 18 to detect 1 CrAg-positive person. This approach may facilitate the detection of asymptomatic cryptococcal infection and allow a timely diagnosis of symptomatic cryptococcal disease.

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2017049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lassina TRAORE ◽  
Ouéogo NIKIEMA ◽  
Abdoul Karim OUATTARA ◽  
Tegwindé Rébéca COMPAORE ◽  
Serge Théophile SOUBEIGA ◽  
...  

Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) are responsible for severe diseases, particularly in immunocompromised persons. There are poor data on the infection with these opportunistic viruses in Burkina Faso.The purpose of this study is to characterize EBV and HHV-6 subtypes and to assess their impact on CD4 T cell count, HIV-1 viral load and antiretroviral treatment in people living with HIV-1.The study population consisted of 238 HIV-positive patients with information on CD4 count, HIV-1 viral load and HAART. Venous blood samples collected on EDTA tubes were used for EBV and HHV-6 Real Time PCR subtyping.An infection rate of 6.7% (16/238) and 7.1% (17/238) were found respectively for EBV and HHV-6 in the present study. Among EBV infections, similar prevalences were noted for both subtypes (3.9% [9/238] for EBV-1 vs 4.6% [11/238] for EBV-2) with 2.1% (5/238) of co-infection. HHV-6A infection represented 6.3% (15/238) of the study population against 5.0% (12/238) for HHV-6B. . EBV-2 infection was significantly higher in patients with CD4 count ≥ 500 compared to those with CD4 count less than 500 cells (1.65% vs 8.56%, p = 0,011). The prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 infections were almost similar in HAART-naive and HAART-experienced patients.The present study provides information on the prevalence of EBV and HHV-6 subtypes in people living with HIV-1 in Burkina Faso. The study also suggests that HAART treatment has no effect on infection with these opportunistic viruses in people living with HIV-1.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 967-975
Author(s):  
Ariane Melaré Ramos dos Santos ◽  
Amaury Pachione Martins ◽  
Denise Juliato ◽  
Érique José Farias Peixoto de Miranda ◽  
Giselle Ibette Silva Lopez Lopes ◽  
...  

Even though darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) has high potency and a greater genetic barrier, there are few studies on the long-term effectiveness of DRV/r-based salvage therapy in people living with HIV (PLWH) in low and middle-income countries. This retrospective cohort study, from São Paulo, Brazil, included ART-experienced PLWH aged ≥18 years with virological failure (VF) who had started DRV/r plus an optimized background regimen (OBR) between 2008 and 2012. The proportion of patients with viral load (VL) <50 copies/mL, the improved mean CD4+ T cell count and the factors associated with VF during the 144-week follow-up were assessed. The study included 173 patients with the following characteristics [median (interquartile range)]: age 48 (42 -53) years; CD4+ T cell count, 229 (89 -376) cells/mm3; VL, 4.26 (3.70 -4.74) log10; 6 (4 -7) previous regimens; and 100 (38 -156) months of VF. After 144 weeks, 129 (75%) patients had VL< 50 copies/mL and a mean increase in the CD4+ T cell count of 190 cells/mm3. VL>100,000 copies/mL and poor adherence were associated with VF. DRV/r plus an OBR showed high long-term virological suppression and immunological recovery. VL>100,000 copies/mL and poor adherence were associated with VF at 144 weeks.


Author(s):  
Gilmara Holanda Cunha ◽  
Marli Teresinha Gimeniz Galvão ◽  
Maria Luciana Teles Fiuza ◽  
Maria Amanda Correia Lima ◽  
Samyla Citó Pedrosa ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-465
Author(s):  
Courtney Lynn ◽  
Tiffany Chenneville ◽  
Kathy Bradley-Klug ◽  
Audra St. John Walsh ◽  
Robert F. Dedrick ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S805-S805
Author(s):  
Matthew A Spinelli ◽  
Michael J Peluso ◽  
Kara Lynch ◽  
Cassandra Yun ◽  
David V Glidden ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Limited data are available on whether there are differences in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination by HIV status or by mRNA vaccine type. Methods We saved residual outpatient laboratory samples of all previously mRNA-vaccinated individuals in the adult medicine clinics of a public hospital with a large outpatient HIV clinic during May 2021, and then excluded individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. We next 1:1 matched 100 PLWH to 100 outpatient HIV-negative adult medicine patients receiving care for chronic medical conditions on days since completion of second vaccination (minimum 10), sex, age +/-5 years, and the type of mRNA vaccine received. We defined a non-response as reciprocal pseudovirus neutralizing titer&lt; 10 and anti-RBD IgG&lt; 10 relative fluorescent units, and compared non-response by HIV status using mixed models. Results In each matched group there were 13 women; 25 received the mRNA-1273 vaccine and 75 received the BNT162b2 vaccine; the median age was 59. The median time from second vaccination was 35 days (IQR: 20–63). Among PLWH, the median CD4+ T-cell count was 511 (IQR: 351–796) and 5 individuals had HIV RNA &gt; 200. We found 2.4-fold greater odds of pseudovirus neutralizing antibody non-response among PLWH compared to people without HIV (95% CI=1.1–5.4). Although few individuals in each group did not mount an IgG response (12 among PLWH vs. 5; p=0.08), continuous anti-RBD IgG concentrations were 43% lower among PLWH (95% CI=0.36–0.88). Among PLWH, when adjusting for age, sex, and days post-vaccination, each 100-cell increase in CD4+T-cell count was associated with 22% higher neutralizing antibody titers (GMR 1.22; 95% CI=1.09–1.37). Unsuppressed HIV RNA &gt;200 was associated with 89% lower neutralizing antibody titers (GMR 0.11; 95% CI=0.01–0.84). Receipt of the BNT162b2 vs. mRNA-1273 vaccine was associated with 77% lower neutralizing titers (GMR 0.23; 95% CI=0.08–0.65) among PLWH. Post-mRNA Vaccination SARS-CoV-2 IgG Concentrations and Pseudovirus Neutralizing Titers by HIV Status and Vaccine Conclusion PLWH had lower than expected response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, with the highest non-response among those with low CD4+ counts, unsuppressed HIV RNA, and those who received the BNT162b2 vaccine. Immunization strategies to improve immune responses among PLWH should be studied, and may include booster vaccination or preference of the mRNA-1273 vaccine in this group. Disclosures Matthew A. Spinelli, MD, MAS, Nothing to disclose Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, Nothing to disclose


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maya Mellor ◽  
Anne Bast ◽  
Nicholas Jones ◽  
Nia Roberts ◽  
Jose Ordonez-Mena ◽  
...  

Objective: To assess whether people living with HIV (PLWH) are at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality or adverse outcomes, and whether antiretroviral therapy (ART) influences this risk. Design: Rapid review with meta-analysis and narrative synthesis. Methods: We searched databases including Embase, Medline, medRxiv, and Google Scholar up to 26th August 2020 for studies describing COVID-19 outcomes in PLWH and conducted a meta-analysis of higher quality studies. Results: We identified 1,908 studies and included 19 in the review. In a meta-analysis of five studies, PLWH had a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 1.93, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.59-2.34) compared to people without HIV. Risk of death remained elevated for PLWH in a subgroup analysis of hospitalised cohorts (HR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05-2.24) and studies of PLWH across all settings (HR 2.08, 95%CI: 1.69-2.56). Eight other studies assessed the association between HIV and COVID-19 outcomes, but provided inconclusive, lower-quality evidence due to potential confounding and selection bias. There were insufficient data on the effect of CD4+ T cell count and HIV viral load on COVID-19 outcomes. Eleven studies reported COVID-19 outcomes by ART-regimen. In the two largest studies, tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate (TDF)-based regimens were associated with a lower risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes, although these analyses are susceptible to confounding by comorbidities. Conclusion: Evidence is emerging that suggests a moderately increased risk of COVID-19 mortality amongst PLWH. Further investigation into the relationship between COVID-19 outcomes and CD4+ T cell count, HIV viral load, ART and the use of TDF is warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorsaf Saadouli ◽  
Lamia Ammari ◽  
Khaoula Ben Mansour ◽  
Yosra Yahyaoui ◽  
Sameh Aissa ◽  
...  

Background: Ocular involvement is a common complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Knowledge about this topic in Tunisia is limited.Objective: To investigate ophthalmic manifestations in patients living with HIV in Tunisia.Method: This was an observational study, performed between January 2007 and December 2016. We included patients with ocular disorders related to HIV. The data were recorded retrospectively from chart review.Results: Amongst 98 people living with HIV (PLWH), 36 participants (55 eyes) had ocular manifestations. The mean age was 32.2 ± 5.6 years. Twenty-four patients were men and 12 were women. The mean value of CD4+ T-cell count was 156.5 ± 4.2 cells/µL. Bilateral lesions were found in 19 eyes. Best corrected visual acuity was better than 6/12 in 36 eyes. The most common ocular finding was dry eye syndrome (22%), cotton-wool spots (20%) and retinal haemorrhage (16%) followed by cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (9%), anterior uveitis (7%), toxoplasmosis (4%) and tuberculosis retinochoroiditis (7%) Herpetic keratitis (5%), Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (2%) and syphilitic chorioretinitis (2%). Papilledema was found in three eyes (5%). Panuveitis was observed in four eyes (7%): three of them were associated with chorioretinal toxoplasmosis, syphilitic chorioretinitis and CMV retinitis. The fourth was attributable to immune recovery uveitis. A CD4+ T-cell count of ≤ 200 cells/µL was found to be an independent risk factor for developing posterior segment manifestations.Conclusion: Various ophthalmic manifestations were observed in PLWH. The most common lesion was retinopathy. Ocular involvement can be serious leading to poor visual prognosis, which requires close collaboration between the ophthalmologist and infectious disease physician.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document