Early-Onset HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis.

BACKGROUND: Vertical transmission of HTLV-1 could lead to the early development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). This significantly affects quality of life and increases morbimortality. OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with early-onset HAM/TSP, defined as disease onset before 20 years of age. METHODS: This is a retrospective study from an HTLV-1 clinical cohort between 1989 and 2019. We searched for medical records of patients with (1) diagnosis of HTLV-1 infection using two ELISA and/or one Western blot, (2) clinical diagnosis of HAM/TSP by neurological assessment, and (3) HAM/TSP symptom-onset before 20 years of age. RESULTS: A total of 38 cases were identified in the cohort; 25 were female (66%). The median age of onset was 14 years old. 31 (82%) cases had HTLV-1 testing done among family members; 22 out of 25 tested mothers (88%) were HTLV-1 positive. Most patients (27/34) were breastfed for more than one year. Disease progression measured through EDSS and IPEC-1 showed an upward trend towards worsening spasticity with 18 patients (47%) eventually requiring mobility aids. CONCLUSIONS: Cases of early-onset HAM/TSP are not of rare occurrence, which translates into many more years of dependency, the use of mobility aids, and increased overall morbidity

Impact of fractures and orthopedic surgeries in patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) gait disturbance is a predominant feature that leads to falls and fractures, which can further aggravate disability. We sought to evaluate the impact of fractures and orthopedic surgeries in patients with HAM/TSP. METHODS: We retrieved the medical records of HAM/TSP patients enrolled in our study center's HTLV-1 clinical cohort between 1989-2018. The selection criteria included: (1) diagnosis of HTLV-1 infection using two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and/or a confirmatory test, (2) clinical diagnosis of HAM/TSP by neurological assessment, and (3) fractures associated with HAM/TSP. RESULTS: We identified 24 cases of fractures, 70% of which were females. The median age at the time of fracture was 60 years (IQR=24). Six cases reported fractures in patients under 45 years old. Ten patients (42%) had hip/coccyx fractures, seven (29%) were in the lower extremities, and four (17%) in the upper extremities. Half of these patients reported the use of wheelchairs. Five patients who had previously used canes required the use of wheelchairs after the reported fracture. Eight patients underwent corrective orthopedic surgery as a result of the fracture. CONCLUSIONS: For HAM/TSP patients, fractures are a complication that can exacerbate their severe impairment

Efecto de la terapia antiretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA) en pacientes enrolados en un hospital público en Lima-Perú.

Introducción: En mayo del 2004, el Ministerio de Salud (MINSA) en colaboración con el Fondo Global de lucha contra el SIDA, la tuberculosis y la malaria implementó el programa nacional (PN) para brindar terapia antiretroviral en forma gratuita a todos los pacientes infectados con el VIH con indicación de tratamiento de acuerdo a la guía del PN. Objetivos: Describir las características pre-tratamiento antiretroviral, respuesta a la terapia antiretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA), toxicidad y tasa de mortalidad de la población de pacientes que iniciaron TARGA a través del PN en un hospital general. Material y Métodos: Revisamos las historias clínicas, fichas médicas, resultados de laboratorio y tarjetas de TARGA de todos los pacientes enrolados en el PN en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia (HNCH) y describimos las características pre-tratamiento antiretroviral, respuesta a la TARGA, toxicidad y tasa de mortalidad. Los pacientes seleccionados para este estudio fueron sujetos infectados con el VIH que: (i) tenían 18 años o más; (ii) iniciaron TARGA en el PN entre mayo 2004 y abril 2006; y (iii) no habían recibido terapia antiretroviral anteriormente (naïve). Se consideró como éxito virológico a la presencia de por lo menos un valor de carga viral indetectable (VIH-1 ARN < 400 copias/mL) entre los 3-6 meses posteriores al inicio de la TARGA. Resultados: Se incluyeron en el estudio a 453 pacientes: 68% fueron varones, la edad promedio fue 35,7 ± 9,5 años y el peso fue 55,6 ± 10,8 Kg. El valor medio de CD4 pre-tratamiento fue 98 células/mm3 y el de carga viral fue 278 438 VIH-1 ARN copias/mL. Descontinuaron el tratamiento 84 pacientes (22 abandonaron, 59 fallecieron y 3 fueron transferidos a otra institución). Aquellos que continuaron fueron seguidos en promedio 337 días; el 38% (142/369) interrumpió temporalmente la TARGA, principalmente debido a toxicidad medicamentosa (82%). Se obtuvo éxito virológico en 85% de los pacientes. La mortalidad fue 13% y el 74% de las muertes ocurrió antes de los 3 meses de tratamiento. Conclusión: A pesar de una elevada frecuencia de interrupción del tratamiento, nuestros resultados muestran que la respuesta a las medicinas distribuidas por el PN es comparable a la reportada por programas de otros países. Es necesario realizar más estudios que evalúen la respuesta al tratamiento antiretroviral a largo plazo en el Perú

Factores asociados a la presentación víscero-hemolítica de loxoscelismo en el Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia, entre el 2000 y 2008

Objectives: To determine clinical factors associated with the occurrence of visceral-hemolytic loxoscelism in patients admitted to Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia, and to describe both clinical and epidemiological features of this condition. Material and method: We conducted a case-control study including patients admitted to Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, with a diagnosis of visceral-hemolytic loxoscelism (cases) and cutaneous loxoscelism (controls), between years 2000 and 2008. Variable were analyzed using a logistic regression model adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: Forty-nine cases and 89 controls were included. Age of patients was similar in both groups (33 ± 18 years vs. 31 ± 20 years, p= 0,27). Visceral-hemolytic loxoscelism was associated with spider bites located in the thorax (OR: 7.3; 95% CI: 1.3�41.0) and with systemic manifestations, including fever (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 1.3�8,1) and a poor general condition (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.3�8.1). Mortality rates were 18% in cases and 0% in controls. Conclusions: Spider bites located in the thoracic area and the presence of fever and a poor general condition during the first 24 hours of hospitalization are associated with the occurrence of visceral-hemolytic loxoscelism.Objetivos: Determinar los factores asociados a la forma víscerohemolítica de loxoscelismo en pacientes admitidos al Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia y describir las características clínico epidemiológicas de esta enfermedad. Material y método: Estudio de casos y controles que incluyó a los pacientes hospitalizados en la institución indicada entre el 2000 y 2008 por loxoscelismo víscero-hemolítico (casos) y loxoscelismo cutáneo (controles), de acuerdo a definiciones operativas. Las variables fueron analizadas en un modelo de regresión logística ajustado por potenciales factores de confusión. Resultados: Se incluyeron 48 casos y 89 controles; no se encontraron diferencias en la media de las edades (33 años ± 18 vs. 31 años ± 20, p=0,27). En el análisis multivariado, la presentación víscero-hemolítica se asoció con la presencia de mordedura en el tórax (ORa 6,6; IC95% 1,5 a 28,7) y de manifestaciones sistémicas en las primeras 24 horas de la admisión, incluyendo fiebre (ORa 3,2; IC95% 1,3 a 8,1) y mal estado general (ORa 3,3; IC95% 1,3 a 8,1). La mortalidad fue de 18% en los casos y 0% en los controles. Conclusiones: La mordedura en tórax y la presencia de fiebre y mal estado general durante las primeras 24 horas están asociadas al desarrollo de la forma víscero-hemolítica de loxoscelismo en este escenario

Patient-nominated supporters as facilitators for engagement in HIV care in a referral hospital in Peru: A retrospective cohort study.

Patient-nominated supporters can potentially improve the continuum of HIV care. We retrospectively determined factors associated with having a patient-nominated supporter among people living with HIV (PLWH), and its association with retention in care and viral suppression. We analysed registries of adults evaluated by social workers (n = 1345) at a referral hospital in Peru between 2011-2014. Nondisclosure of HIV status was associated with lacking supporters (aPR: 5.41, 95% CI: 3.83-7.64). Retention in care was 76.4% and 34.2% after one and two years of enrolment, respectively. PLWH with supporters were more likely to be retained in care after two years (aRR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02-1.81), but not after one year (aRR = 1.10, 95% CI: 0.98-1.23) compared to PLWH without supporters. Having supporters who were parents or friends was associated with an increased probability of being retained in care after one and two years of enrolment. Viral suppression after one year of enrolment was 58.7%. Having a supporter was not associated with viral suppression (aRR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.99-1.41), but PLWH with supporters were more likely to have viral load measurements (p = 0.005). Patient-nominated supporters appear beneficial for engagement in HIV care; these benefits may be related to the nature of their relationship with PLWH

Factors associated with early mycological clearance in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>The first-line combination therapy for HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis (CM), a condition of high mortality particularly in the first two weeks of treatment, consists of amphotericin B plus flucytosine (5-FC). Given that 5-FC remains unavailable in many countries, the knowledge of factors influencing mycological clearance in patients treated with second-line therapy could contribute to effective management.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>To determine the factors associated with the clearance of <i>Cryptococcus</i> sp. from the cerebrospinal fluid by the second week of effective antifungal therapy (early mycological clearance) in HIV-associated CM.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Retrospective cohort study based on secondary data corresponding to HIV-associated CM cases hospitalized at a tertiary health care center in Lima, Peru where 5-FC remains unavailable. Risk factors associated with early mycological clearance were analyzed by generalized linear regression models.</p><p>Results</p><p>From January 2000 to December 2013, 234 individuals were discharged with a diagnosis of HIV-associated CM; in 215 we retrieved the required data. The inpatient mortality was 20% (43/215), 15 of them in the first two weeks of treatment. In the final model (157 cases), adjusted for age, previous episode of CM, ART use, type of antifungal treatment, raised intracranial pressure, frequency of therapeutic lumbar punctures, baseline fungal burden and treatment period, the factors associated with early mycological clearance were: Amphotericin B deoxycholate plus fluconazole as combination therapy (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.14–2.14); severe baseline intracranial pressure (≥35 cm H₂O) (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.33–0.99); and baseline fungal burden over 4.5 log₁₀ CFU/mL (RR, 0.61 95% CI: 0.39–0.95).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>In a setting without access to first-line therapy for CM, the combination therapy with amphotericin B deoxycholate plus fluconazole was positively associated with early mycological clearance, while high fungal burden and severe baseline intracranial pressure were negatively associated, and thus related to failure.</p></div

Missed opportunities for HIV control: Gaps in HIV testing for partners of people living with HIV in Lima, Peru.

Based on the hypothesis that HIV programs struggle to deliver health services that harmonize necessities of treatment and prevention, we described the outcomes of routinely provided HIV testing to partners of people living with HIV (PLWH) through a secondary analysis of routine data collected at a public hospital in Lima, Peru.Among PLWH enrolled in the study center's HIV program between 2005 and 2014, we identified index cases (IC): PLWH who reported a unique partner not previously enrolled. We grouped partners according to their HIV status as reported by IC and collected data on HIV testing, clinical characteristics and admissions. The main outcome was the frequency of HIV testing among partners with reported unknown/seronegative HIV status.Out of 1586 PLWH who reported a unique partner at enrollment, 171 had a previously enrolled partner, leaving 1415 (89%) IC. HIV status of the partner was reported as unknown in 571 (40%), seronegative in 325 (23%) and seropositive in 519 (37%). Out of 896 partners in the unknown/seronegative group, 72 (8%) had HIV testing, 42/72 (58%) tested within three months of IC enrollment. Among the 49/72 (68%) who tested positive for HIV, 33 (67%) were enrolled in the HIV program. The proportion in WHO clinical stage IV was lower in enrolled partners compared to IC (37% vs 9%, p = 0.04). Non-tested partners (824) were likely reachable by the hospital, as 297/824 (36%) of their IC were admitted in the study center at least once, 51/243 (21%) female IC had received pregnancy care at the study center, and 401/692 (64%) of IC on antiretroviral therapy had achieved viral suppression, implying frequent visits to the hospital for pill pick-up.In this setting, HIV testing of partners of PLWH was suboptimal, illustrating missed opportunities for HIV control. Integration of HIV strategies in primarily clinical-oriented services is a challenging need

Comparison of baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics between included and excluded cases with HIV-associated CM in Peru^*.

<p>Comparison of baseline clinical and laboratory characteristics between included and excluded cases with HIV-associated CM in Peru^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0174459#t001fn001" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p

Risk factors associated with early mycological clearance in cases with HIV-associated CM in Peru^*.

<p>Risk factors associated with early mycological clearance in cases with HIV-associated CM in Peru^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0174459#t003fn001" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p

Comparison of baseline characteristics according to the status of early mycological clearance (success vs failure) among cases with HIV-associated CM in Peru^*.

<p>Comparison of baseline characteristics according to the status of early mycological clearance (success vs failure) among cases with HIV-associated CM in Peru^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0174459#t002fn001" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p