In 2008, the Swiss National AIDS Commission issued a statement about the safety of HIV treatment in terms of reduced transmission in serodiscordant couples to reduce transmission in serodiscordant ...couples. This was subjected to debate until 2011 when the HIV prevention trial network 052 published the first randomized study about HIV transmission in serodiscordant couples, where no transmission was observed when the infected person was under effective antiretroviral treatment (ART). Later, the Partners of People on ART-A New Evaluation of the Risks (PARTNER) and the opposites attract studies, which first involved a large number of men who have sex with men (MSM), also showed no transmission, even in condomless receptive anal intercourse (CLAI). In this article, we first review the major studies' data showing the efficacy of ART in HIV transmission in serodiscordant couples at public health scale. Second, we discuss the implications and challenges behind the treatment as prevention strategy regarding the 90-90-90 UNAIDS targets to end the HIV epidemic.We now have strong evidence that ART reduces the risk of transmission of HIV from a positive partner to their negative partner. However, far beyond ART, combining prevention policies is crucial to avoid a new increase in the overall HIV incidence.
Assessment of renal function in HIV-positive patients is of increasing importance in the context of ageing and associated comorbidities. Exposure to nephrotoxic medications is widespread, and several ...commonly used antiretroviral drugs have nephrotoxic potential. Moreover, specific antiretrovirals inhibit renal tubular transporters resulting in the potential for drug-drug interactions as well as increases in serum creatinine concentrations, which affect estimates of glomerular filtration rate in the absence of changes in actual glomerular filtration rate. This review explores the effects of antiretroviral therapy on the kidney and offers an understanding of mechanisms that lead to apparent and real changes in renal function.
We describe the characteristics and short-term prognosis of in-patients with diabetes and COVID-19 admitted to a Belgian academic care center.
We retrospectively reviewed the data on admission from ...patients with known or newly-diagnosed diabetes and confirmed COVID-19. First, survivors were compared to non-survivors to study the predictive factors of in-hospital death in patients with diabetes. Secondly, diabetic patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were matched for age and sex with non-diabetic patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, to study the prognosis and predictive factors of in-hospital death related to diabetes.
Seventy-three diabetic patients were included. Mean age was 69 (±14) years. Women accounted for 52%. Most patients had type 2 diabetes (89.0%), long-term complications of hyperglycemia (59.1%), and hypertension (80.8%). The case-fatality rate (CFR) was 15%. Non-survivors had more severe pneumonia based on imaging (p 0.029) and were less often treated with metformin (p 0.036). In patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, CFR was 15.6% in diabetic (n = 64) and 25.0% in non-diabetic patients (n = 128), the difference being non-significant (p 0.194). Predictive factors of in-hospital death were elevated white blood cells count (HR 9.4, CI 1.50–58.8, p 0.016) and severe pneumonia on imaging (HR 25.0, CI 1.34–466, p 0.031) in diabetic patients, and cognitive impairment (HR 5.80, CI 1.61–20.9, p 0.007) and cardiovascular disease (HR 5.63, CI 1.54–20.6, p 0.009) in non-diabetic patients.
In this monocentric cohort from Belgium, diabetic in-patients with COVID-19 had mostly type 2 diabetes, prevalent hyperglycemia-related vascular complications and comorbidities including hypertension. In this cohort, the CFR was not statistically different between patients with and without diabetes.
•Obesity concerns half of the patients with diabetes and COVID-19.•Body mass index and HbA1c do not influence mortality.•Severe pneumonia on imaging predicts death in patients with diabetes and COVID-19.•Case fatality rate was similar in patients with and without diabetes.
Since December 2019, we have been in the battlefield with a new threat to the humanity, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 ...(COVID‐19), characterized by viral pneumonia. It may be asymptomatic or cause various symptoms, ranging from flu‐like symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome and eventually death. At present, the only reliable test for COVID‐19 diagnosis is quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. Assessing the immune response against SARS‐CoV‐2 could increase the detection sensitivity of infected population. Hereby, we report the performances of a fully automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) on 276 serum samples. One hundred samples obtained from COVID‐19 negative subjects (COVID‐19 free) were analyzed to evaluate the diagnostic specificity of antibody (Ab) detection. Thereafter, 176 samples obtained from 125 patients with confirmed COVID‐19 (COVID‐19 patients) were selected to assess the diagnostic sensitivity of the CLIA. All samples were analyzed on MAGLUMI 800 platform. All COVID‐19 free samples had Ab levels below the cutoff values. Hence, the diagnostic specificity was estimated at 100% (95% confidence interval CI = 96.3‐100.0; positive predictive value = 100%). By the 18th day from the onset of symptoms, we reached an optimal diagnostic sensitivity (more than 95.0%) In fact, the diagnostic sensitivity increased over time and between 15 and 25 days after symptoms onset, reached 95.5% (95% CI = 84.9‐99.2). The new automated CLIA analyzer appeared to be a robust and reliable method to measure specific Ab against COVID‐19 at high throughput. Our data suggest that combining Ab and nucleic acid detection could increase diagnostic sensitivity.
Highlights
In this manuscipt we showed, measuring Antibodies (ABs) against COVID‐19 can increase the sensitivity of the detection of infected population. Clinically false negative results could be expected in the early stages of infection, but clinically false positive results appeared to be rare. The age and early deaths were negatively related to Ab development. However, the time from symptoms onset to sampling, and to hospital admission, were positively related to Ab development. The CLIA method appeared to be reliable to measure Abs against COVID‐19 at a high throughput.
Kingella kingae is the second most common pathogen causing paediatric arthritis and is described to be the causative bacteria in some paediatric osteomyelitis. Its microbiological detection is ...particularly difficult due to its slow growing. To our best knowledge this is the first case description of osteomyelitis pubis caused by this microorganism.
We report the unusual case of pubic osteomyelitis with soft tissue abcess caused by Kingella kingae in an adult patient of 66 years with a history of end-stage renal disease and breast carcinoma. Diagnosis was based on imaging and the microorganism was isolated from Computed Tomography-guided aspiration of synovial fluid. The infection resolved completely after twelve weeks of treatment with oral amoxicillin.
This case description highlights the importance in osteoarticular infections of systematic inoculation of synovial liquid in BACTEC vials to optimise the detection of causative organisms, which can necessitate specific treatments.
The development of an iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome (ICS) followed by secondary adrenal failure remains an exceptional event after a single dose administration of a synthetic glucocorticoid. Medical ...attention has been drawn recently on the possible impact of ritonavir-based antiretroviral regimens on the systemic deleterious effects of a chronic administration of corticosteroids in HIV-infected patients. Three HIV-infected patients treated by a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI) regimen received a single intra-articular injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide in our university hospital. The three patients rapidly developed signs and symptoms of ICS followed by secondary adrenal insufficiency. Special attention must be paid when a single administration of corticosteroids has to be given in HIV-positive patients under ritonavir-boosted antiretroviral treatment, as these patients are at risk of developing early cushingoid features and a prolonged suppression of their hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.
Abstract
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disorder characterized by hyperimmune response. The mortality is high despite progress being made in the diagnosis and ...treatment of the disease. This review aimed to update knowledge on adult HLH pathophysiology, identify the numerous causes and help clinicians make early diagnosis and initiate treatment. Using Embase, we searched relevant articles published from 1 January 2010 to 31 October 2019, with the MESH term ‘haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; macrophagic activation syndrome, adult’. The mean age at presentation is about 50 years, with a male predominance. The most frequent disease associations are haematological diseases, viral or bacterial infections and autoimmune diseases. The pathophysiologic mechanism is probably the combination of inherited genetic mutations and extrinsic triggers. The mortality rate is 26.5–74.8%. HScore is more efficient than HLH-2004 criteria to identify HLH, with diagnostic sensitivity and specificity 90% and 79%, respectively. 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography–computed tomography is potentially useful for detecting underlying disease and the extent of secondary HLH. Disease-specific treatment should be given as soon as possible. Treatment with corticosteroids combined or not with etoposide is the mainstay of treatment. Monoclonal antibodies and JAK pathway inhibitors show promise of being effective. In adult HLH, infectious diseases, autoimmune disease and malignancy should be suspected so that disease-specific treatment can be given promptly. Treatment with corticosteroids combined or not with etoposide is the mainstay of treatment, but new therapies show promise of being effective.
An 18-year-old man was referred to the Internal Medicine ward because of a 2-week history of intermittent high fever, weight loss and cough. Clinical examination revealed hepato-splenomegaly and ...multiple lymph nodes swelling while laboratory tests showed elevated C-reactive protein, gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase. All serologic testes for auto-immune antibodies, viruses and bacteria were negative except for Chlamydophila pneumoniae. An 18-FDG PET computed tomography scanner showed hypermetabolism in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. We therefore conducted a liver biopsy that demonstrated non-necrotizing granulomas. We conclude to a C. pneumoniae infection associated with a granulomatous hepatitis. After treatment with Doxyciclin the patient had no more fever, hepatosplenomegaly resolved and blood testes normalized. This case report is to our knowledge the first report of a granulomatous hepatitis associated with C. pneumoniae respiratory infection.
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a severe disorder with high mortality. The aim of this review is to update clinical management of relapsed/refractory HLH in adults, with a focus on ...current and new therapies.
We searched relevant articles in Embase and PUBMED with the MESH term "hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; refractory; relapsing; adult."
One hundred eight papers were found; of these, 22 were retained for this review. The treatment of HLH in adult is based on the HLH-94 regimen. The response rate is lower than in pediatric patients, and 20-30% are refractory to this therapy. DEP regimen and allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are associated with complete response and partial response in 27% and 49.2%, respectively. However, many patients fail to achieve a stable condition before HSCT, and mortality is higher in them. New drugs have been developed, such as emapalumab, ruxolitinib, and alemtuzumab, and they may be used as bridges to the curative HSCT. They are relatively well tolerated and have few or mild side effects. With these agents, the rate of partial response ranges from 14.2% to 100%, while the rate of complete response is highly variable according to study and medication used. The number of patients who achieved HSCT ranged from 44.8% to 77%, with a survival rate of 55.9% to 100%. However, the populations in these studies are mainly composed of mixed-age patients (pediatric and adult patients), and studies including only adult patients are scarce.
Relapsed or refractory HLH in adult patients is associated with poor outcome, and consolidation with HSCT may be required in some cases. Mortality related to HSCT is mainly due to active HLH disease before HSCT and post HSCT complications. New drugs, such as empalumab, ruxolitinib, and alemtuzumab are interesting since these agents may be used as bridges to HSCT with increases in the numbers of patients proceeding to HSCT and survival rate.
Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening disease, which can be primary (due to genetic mutation) or secondary to malignancy, infection and rheumatologic diseases. ...Data concerning Belgian patients with adult HLH are lacking. Methods: This retrospective study was performed in a teaching hospital in Belgium. All cases of adult HLH, from December 2010 to April 2022, were reviewed. Patients with more than five HLH-2004 criteria and/or HScore >80% were included in the study. The objective of our study was to describe clinical and biological characteristics of patients with HLH and attempt to look for variables associated with mortality. Results: Fifty-two patients were included in the final analysis. Mean age (SD) of patients was 48 (18) years old, and 29 patients were of male gender (56%). The underlying diseases associated with HLH were malignancy (M-HLH) in 22 patients, infection related HLH in 20 patients, rheumatologic disease related HLH in 7 patients, idiopathic in 2 patients and secondary to pregnancy in 1 patient. Overall mortality, mortality at 30 days and 90 days were 24/52 (46%), 13/52 (25%) and 4/52 (10%), respectively. In univariate analysis, malignancy, male sex, age and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were associated with mortality (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, only age was significantly associated with mortality (odds ratio, 1.053; 95% confidence interval, 1.016-1.092; p 0.005). Conclusion: In our study, the most frequent triggers were malignancy and infectious agent followed by rheumatologic disease. Risk factors for mortality were age, male sex, malignancy and DIC, but only age remained significant in multivariate analysis. Treatment guidelines are mainly based on pediatric patients, and it is important for physician to describe adult patients' outcome to better understand this disease and adapt treatment. Keywords: hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, macrophage activation syndrome, infection, autoimmune disease, malignancy, corticosteroid, tocilizumab, ruxolitinib, mortality
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