High-dose (5000-μg) Intravitreal Ganciclovir Combined with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy for Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in HIV-Infected Patients in Venezuela

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 610-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.F. Arevalo ◽  
R.A. Garcia ◽  
A.J. Mendoza

Purpose To describe the use of high doses of intravitreal ganciclovir combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Methods Thirteen HIV-infected patients (18 eyes) with active CMV retinitis (83.3% in zone 1 and 38.4% resistant) participated in this prospective interventional case series. Patients were treated with high dose intravitreal ganciclovir (5.0 mg/0.1 mL once a week) in combination with HAART therapy. Intravitreal injections were discontinued once CMV retinitis healed if there was a significant increase in CD4+ count (any increase of ≥50 cells/μL to levels over 100 cells/μL sustained for at least 3 months). Mean follow-up was 15.6 months. Main outcome measures included assessment of visual acuity and retinal inflammation (CMV retinitis activity). A matched historical control group of 20 eyes (15 patients) with CMV retinitis treated with systemic ganciclovir (intravenous [induction] and oral [maintenance]) was included. Results Complete regression of the retinitis was obtained with high doses of intravitreal ganciclovir in 88.8% of eyes (two patients died during follow-up) at a mean of 4.5 weeks (2 to 8 weeks). Visual acuity improved two or more lines in 61.1% of eyes. No ganciclovir retinal toxicity was identified. Three eyes presented CMV retinitis reactivation at a mean of 25.6 days after their last injection. Complications (33.3%) included retinal detachment (RD; 3 eyes), immune recovery uveitis (IRU; 2 eyes), and endophthalmitis (1 eye). In our control group complete regression of the retinitis was obtained in 100% of eyes at a mean of 4 weeks (3 to 7 weeks). However, 12 eyes (60%) presented with CMV retinitis relapse at a mean of 29 days (21 to 32 days) after initiating oral ganciclovir (maintenance). Complications included RD (7 eyes, 35%) and IRU (3 eyes, 15%). Severe neutropenia occurred in 2 patients (13%). Conclusions High doses of intravitreal ganciclovir (5.0 mg) once a week in combination with HAART therapy is effective to control CMV retinitis, and may be discontinued after CMV retinitis has healed if immune reconstitution with a significant increase in CD4+ count has occurred.

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Hjertquist Tremeschin ◽  
Daniela Saes Sartorelli ◽  
Maria Célia Cervi ◽  
Bento Vidal de Moura Negrini ◽  
Roberta Garcia Salomão ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: HIV-infected children and adolescents treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens that include a protease inhibitor (PI) can show significant improvements in clinical outcomes, nutritional status and quality of life. The study aimed to report nutritional and metabolic alterations for pediatric patients continuously exposed to HAART and for healthy controls for up to 1 year. METHODS: Clinical, anthropometric, lipid profile and food intake data were collected prospectively over approximately 12-months for each patient. RESULTS: Fifty-one individuals were studied, of these, 16 were healthy. After 12 months follow-up, HIV-positive individuals remained below the healthy control group parameters. No change was observed concerning food intake. Triglyceride serum levels were higher in patients using protease inhibitor at the onset of the study [PI groups: 114 (43 - 336), and 136 (63 - 271) versus control group: 54.5 (20 - 162); p = 0.003], but after twelve months follow-up, only the group using protease inhibitor for up to two months presented higher values [140 (73 - 273) versus 67.5 (33 - 117); p = 0.004]. HDL-cholesterol was lower in HIV-positive individuals [HIV-positive groups: 36 (27 - 58) and 36 (23 - 43); control 49.5 (34 - 69); p = 0.004]. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected children and adolescents treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy showed compromised nutritional parameters compared to a paired healthy control group. Individuals using protease inhibitor presented worse triglyceride serum levels compared to their healthy counterparts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Akmal Hisham ◽  
Devananthan Ilenghoven ◽  
Wan Syazli Wan Ahmad Kamal ◽  
Salina Ibrahim ◽  
Shah Jumaat Mohd Yussof

The emergence of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has revolutionized the prognosis of HIV-infected patients. However, the extended use of HAART is associated with a disfiguring complication termed lipodystrophy, a disorder of body fat maldistribution causing peripheral fat loss (lipoatrophy) and central fat accumulation (lipohypertrophy). Lipoatrophy commonly affects the face, legs, buttocks and arm, whilst lipohypertrophy frequently favours the abdomen, breast and dorsocervical region. To our knowledge, we present only the second documented case in the literature of a labia majora lipohypertrophy in a HIV-positive patient receiving long-term HAART. The severity of labial abnormality caused significant physical and functional morbidities. Labiaplasty with dermolipectomy of the labia majora and excisional lipectomy of the mons pubis was successfully performed. At a 6-month follow-up, patient had no recurrence with resolution of symptoms and resumption of normal activities of daily living (ADL).


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1597.1-1597
Author(s):  
E. Treppo ◽  
M. Infantino ◽  
M. Benucci ◽  
V. Ravagnani ◽  
B. Palterer ◽  
...  

Background:Anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzime A reductase (HMGCR) myopathy is a new entity, which has been clearly associated to statin use, even if it can be diagnosed in patients without a history of exposure to statin or even in the childhood (1).Objectives:The aim of the study is to describe the efficacy of a triple therapy regimen consisting in high-doses of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG), methotrexate (MTX), and glucocorticoids (GC) in 16 patients with Anti-HMGCR myopathy enrolled in 6 specialized centres.Methods:A total of 16 patients with anti-HMGCR myopathy (7 females; 9 males) were collected. Mean (±standard deviation) age at the onset of disease was 72.4±10.3 years old. All patients were diagnosed having anti-HMGCR myopathy [anti-HMGCR antibodies were measured by chemiluminescence assay (BioFlash, Inova, CA)] (2). Median follow-up was 29.5 months (interquartile range: 15.75-60 months). Anti-HMGCR antibodies were available in the follow-up in 8/16 patients.Results:Thirteen out of 16 patients (81.3%) had been exposed to statin (1/13 to red rice), 3/16 (18.7%) were not exposed. As induction therapy, 11/16 patients have been treated with triple therapy (high-dose IVIG, MTX and GC), 2/16 with double therapy (high-dose IVIG and GC), 2/16 have been treated with GC alone, the patient exposed to red rice resolved only with red rice suspension. Clinical remission and normalization of CPK values within month +24 were obtained in all the patients. All the patients were in remission at the last follow-up. Gradual improvement started soon from the first month, and among the 13 patients treated with an aggressive immunosuppresssive therapy including IVIG (13/13), GC (13/13) and methotrexate (11/13), 9/13 normalized the CPK value within 6 months. Clinical and laboratory response was accompanied by significant decrease or normalization of the anti-HMGCR antibody titer. All the patients were either not taking GC (56.3%), or were taking low doses of GC (43.7%) at the last follow-up. Four patients had stopped GC within 6 months. No serious side effects were recorded. After persistent remission, a maintenance immunosuppressive therapy was then administered. Only 3 relapses in 3 different cases were recorded, all of them during drug-free remission in long-term follow-up. Reinduction was again effective in all.Conclusion:Anti-HMGCR myopathy is a rare and serious myopathy which usually affects older people during statin treatment. After statin suspension, a rapid and sustained remission can be achieved by induction with a triple aggressive therapy consisting in medium-to high doses of GC, high-dose IVIG, and MTX (3). GC should be tapered as soon as possible. Relapse appears infrequent during maintenance treatment. Monitoring anti-HMGCR antibody titer may be clinically relevant.References:[1]AL Mammen et al. N Engl J Med. 2016;374:664-9[2]Musset L et al. Autoimmun Rev. 2016;15:983-93.[3]Aggarwal A et al. Scand J Rheumatol. 2019; 1-7.Acknowledgments:We thank MD Francesca Grosso and MD Valentina Mecheri from the University of Florence, MD Angela Zuppa and MD Chiara De Michelis, from San Martino Hospital, Genova, for their valued collaboration in data collectionDisclosure of Interests:Elena Treppo: None declared, Maria Infantino: None declared, Maurizio Benucci: None declared, Viviana Ravagnani: None declared, Boaz Palterer: None declared, Marina Grandis: None declared, Martina Fabris: None declared, Paola Tomietto: None declared, Mariangela Manfredi: None declared, Arianna Sonaglia: None declared, Maria Grazia Giudizi: None declared, Francesca Ligobbi: None declared, Daniele Cammelli: None declared, Paola Parronchi: None declared, Salvatore De Vita Consultant of: Roche, GSK, Speakers bureau: Roche, GSK, Novartis, Luca Quartuccio Consultant of: Abbvie, Bristol, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samad Rasul ◽  
Robert Delapenha ◽  
Faria Farhat ◽  
Jhansi Gajjala ◽  
Syeda Mehreen Zahra

Graves' disease after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in certain HIV-1-infected individuals has been described as an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). This phenomenon should be suspected in individuals who present with clinical deterioration and a presentation suggestive of hyperthyroidism despite good virological and immunological response to HAART. Signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be discrete or overt and typically develop 8–33 months after initiating therapy. One to two percent of HIV-infected patients can present with overt thyroid disease. Relatively few cases of Graves' IRIS have been reported in the literature to date. We describe four cases of Graves' IRIS in HIV-infected patients who were started on HAART therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 171
Author(s):  
Hamid Reza Adeli Bhroz ◽  
Kazem Parivar ◽  
Iraj Amiri ◽  
Nasim Hayati Roodbari

Background and Aim: Thyroid is one of the endocrine glands, (T3 and T4) play a significant role in the development of prenatal brain and the following stages. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of hypothyroidism on the amount of expression of NT4, NT3, nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain of one-day rat neonates with hypothyroidism.Materials and Methods: In total, 25 mature mice of Albino NMRI race were selected after mating, divided into three group, control, as well as low-dose and high-dose intervention groups. Samples of the control group received pure water during pregnancy, whereas subjects of the intervention group with low and high doses of the medication were administered with 20 mg and 100 mg methimazole powder (dissolved in 100 cc water), respectively. After child delivery, blood samples were obtained from mother mice to determine the level of T3 and T4 in blood serum. Following that, the brain of one-day mice were removed by surgery and assessed to determine the amount of expression of NT4, NT3, NGF and BDNF using the complete kit of RT-PCR.Results: Levels of T4 and T3 in the control group were 28 ug/dl and 1.59 ug/dl, respectively. In the low-dose intervention group, the amounts of the mentioned hormones were 8 ug/dl and 0.85 ug/dl, significantly, indicating a significant reduction in the expression of NT4, NT3, NGF and BDNF genes, compared to the control group. Moreover, T4 and T3 were 6 ug/dl and 0.79 ug/dl in the high-dose group, respectively, conveying a significant decrease in the expression of NT4, NT3, NGF and BDNF genes, compared to the control group (P<0.05).


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akanksha Agrawal ◽  
Deepanshu Jain ◽  
Sameer Siddique

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous organism which can infect multiple organs of the body. In an immunocompromised patient, it can have a myriad of gastrointestinal manifestations. We report a case of recurrent hematochezia and concomitant pseudotumor in an AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patient attributable to CMV infection. A 62-year-old man with a history of AIDS, noncompliant with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), presented with bright red blood per rectum. Index colonoscopy showed presence of multiple ulcers, colonic stenosis, and mass-like appearing lesion. Biopsy confirmed CMV infection and ruled out malignancy. Cessation of dual antiplatelet therapy and compliance with HAART lead to clinical cessation of bleeding and endoscopic healing of ulcers with complete resolution of colon mass on follow-up colonoscopy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Thomas Nubila ◽  
Ernest O. Ukaejiofo ◽  
Nkoyo I. Nubila ◽  
Godfrey I. Okorie

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is considered toxic and has other life-threatening side effects. Our aim was to evaluate the haematotoxic effects of lamivudine, zidovudine, and nevirapine fixed-dose combinations in Albino Wistar rats. Fifty (50) three (3) months old male Albino Wistar rats weighing between 200 and 250 g were randomly assigned to five (5) groups (A, B, C, D, and E). Group A served as control. Two (2 mLs) of venous blood was aseptically collected on Days 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 of treatment. Red blood cell (RBC) mean value recorded statistically significant increase () in groups B and C when compared with the control group on Day 5. However, there was a statistically significant decrease () in RBC, haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and some red cell indices on Day 10. In addition there was no statistically significant difference () in all the parameters evaluated when the test group was compared with the control on Day 25. Furthermore, there was a time-related statistically significant increase () in the two major blood cells—RBC and platelet counts. From the result of this present study, it can be concluded that HAART when administered in fixed-dose combinations have no subacute haematotoxic effects.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document