Indian Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS最新文献

Background and objectives: Treatment of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLHIV) is monitored using plasma HIV viral load levels and CD4 counts. Patients with either immunological nonresponse (virological suppression achieved) or virological nonresponse (immune reconstitution achieved) are termed as having a discordant response. These patients are at higher risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related infections/diseases/neoplasms, non-AIDS-related illnesses (cardiovascular, neurological, renal, hepatic diseases), and all-cause death. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of immunovirological discordance among PLHIV after completion of at least 1 year of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) at an antiretroviral therapy (ART) plus center in India and analyze contributory factors.

Methods: The study was a retrospective study of PLHIV receiving cART at the ART plus clinic in Western India from January 18 to December 21. Four hundred and ninety-six patients were studied based on sample size calculated and assessed for CD4 and viral load response at 0, 6, and 12 months of ART.

Results: Of the 496 patients, 48 patients (9.7%) had immunovirological discordance. Out of them, 36 patients (75%) had a virological response (immunological nonresponse) and 12 (25%) patients had an immunological response (virological nonresponse). The factors contributing to immunological nonresponse were as follows - low baseline CD4 levels (<100 cells) (36.1%), adherence <95% (33.3%), presence of opportunistic infections (16.6%), and failure on first-line therapy (11.1%). Other factors noted included higher baseline viral load (2.7%), chronic kidney disease (5.5%), and chronic hepatitis B virus co-infection (5.5%). Virological nonresponse was associated with poor adherence to therapy <95% (33%) and failure of first-line regimen (33%). Opportunistic infections were noted among 33% of patients and 8.3% of patients were found to have higher baseline viral load.

Interpretation and conclusion: Immunovirological discordance is an important factor influencing response to cART and is associated with many complications such as AIDS and non-AIDS-related events and even death. Improved adherence and timely identification and management of opportunistic infections are measures that are beneficial in reducing the incidence of immunovirological discordance.

Background: Antiretroviral drugs are efficacious but are associated with long-term toxicities, drug interactions, and emergence of drug resistance.

Objective: To study the incidence and pattern of adverse drug reactions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) (tenofovir, efavirenz, and lamivudine (TEL) which was introduced by NACO in 2013.

Materials and methods: A prospective, single-center observational study that included 135 treatment-naive HIV patients who were started on fixed drug once-daily regimen (TEL). At baseline, detailed clinical history, body weight, waist-hip ratio, complete blood count, liver and renal function test, CD4 cell count were performed. Clinical monitoring for cutaneous, neuropsychiatric, and gastrointestinal side effects was done every month along with laboratory monitoring and anthropometric measurement for every 6 months. CD4 counts were measured at baseline and end of the study at 12 months.

Results: Out of 135 participants, 89 (65.9%) were males and 46 (34%) were females. The mean age and the mean duration of illness at inclusion were 35.10 ± 8.97 years and 1.2 ± 0.6 years, respectively. The mean increase in weight at baseline and at 12 months (57.55 ± 6.56 to 64.04 ± 8.2) was statistically significant (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.35-8.62, P < 0.001). The mean CD4 counts at baseline were 309.73 ± 118.44 and increased after 12 months of treatment to 421 ± 129.4 which was statistically significant (95% CI: 81.54-140.99, P < 0.001). The mean difference in platelet count was statistically significant between baseline and 12 months (95% CI: 10.32-46.13, P = 0.002). The mean difference in serum urea levels at baseline and at 6 months (95% CI: 0.60-1.61, P < 0.001) as well as 12 months were statistically significant (95% CI: 0.08-1.03, P = 0.02). The mean increase in serum creatinine at baseline (0.75 ± 0.12) and at 12 months (0.97 ± 0.16) was also significant (95% CI: 0.21-0.28, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between mean creatinine clearance at baseline and at 12 months (109.9 ± 13.75 to 99.33 ± 12.52, P < 0.0001). One patient discontinued treatment due to adverse effects while two patients were shifted to second-line antiretroviral treatment.

Limitations: Small sample size, single-center study and short follow-up period, long-term toxicities were not appreciated.

Conclusion: Fixed drug combination with TEL as a first-line ART for HIV is a safe regime as we observed minimal side effects with current regimen.

Background: Nonvenereal dermatoses (NVD) are the spectrum of disorders involving the genitalia with varied etiology and having a considerable influence on the health-related quality of life (QOL), but it remains under evaluated.

Objective: To study the prevalence, pattern, and the effect of nonvenereal genital dermatoses on the QOL of patients with the help of dermatological life quality index (DLQI) questionnaire.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted for a period of 1 year. A total of 132 patients were included in the study. QOL was assessed by using the DLQI questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence was found to be 10.2/1000 cases in our study. Genital scabies (34.8%) was the common dermatoses followed by vitiligo (18.9%) and lichen simplex chronicus (8.3%). These dermatoses were having moderate effect on the DLQI of majority (52.3%) of the patients and its having very large effect on DLQI in 20.5% of patients. Mean DLQI scores were high among the age group of 41-70 years, male sex and in patients who had <1 month duration of the dermatoses. Regarding individual dermatoses, infestation (scabies) was having higher mean DLQI scores and it was statistically significant.

Conclusion: This study depicts that NVD are having impact on the QOL and its mainly attributed to the site of dermatoses and also due to the symptoms. Proper counseling about the nature of these disorders and prompt treatment were important, thereby improving the QOL of such patients.

Background: Researchers are interested in genital wart (GW) studies due to their increased incidence. In a single experimental research, virally infected mouse models showed elevated kisspeptin levels and low interferon levels.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the serum levels of kisspeptin and interferon (INF)-beta in GW patients.

Patients and methods: Forty patients with GWs and forty healthy participants of comparable age and sex as a control group were included in this case-control study. Serum levels of kisspeptin and IFN-beta were measured using ELISA during the period from December 2021 to April 2022.

Results: Kisspeptin was significantly higher among cases than controls, whereas IFN-beta level was lower among cases than controls (P < 0.001). There were no significant relations between kisspeptin and IFN-beta levels and the clinical data for the studied participants, and there was no significant correlation between both (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The reported increased kisspeptin level which was associated with decreased interferon-beta level in patients with GWs might indicate a new insight into viral infection pathogenesis. Further research including all steps in kisspeptin/G protein-coupled receptor 54 pathway is required. Targeted therapy for this pathway may be of value for those patients.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, chronic, ulcerative, neutrophilic, and inflammatory skin disease. It most commonly affects the lower limb, may affect peristomal skin, and rarely involves mucosal and internal sites. Genital involvement has been rarely reported. Hereby, we report a case of penile PG in a 70-year-old male treated with oral steroids.

Donovanosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella granulomatosis and is characterized by painless beefy red granulomatous ulcer which bleeds on touch and is mostly confined to the endemic regions of the world. It is rarest among the sexually transmitted genital ulcer diseases. We hereby report a case of donovanosis in a non-endemic area who initially presented with a solitary genital ulcer. Initial tests did not reveal any aetiology. However after four days of admission, since no aetiology was coming forth, a repeat tissue smear from the lesion revealed Donovan bodies which helped in the bedside diagnosis and management of the case.