In a real-life setting, direct-acting antivirals to people who inject drugs with chronic hepatitis c in Turkey

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) should be treated in order to eliminate hepatitis C virus in the world. The aim of this study was to compare direct-acting antivirals treatment of hepatitis C virus for PWID and non-PWID in a real-life setting. Methods: We performed a prospective, non-randomized, observational multicenter cohort study in 37 centers. All patients treated with direct-acting antivirals between April 1, 2017, and February 28, 2019, were included. In total, 2713 patients were included in the study among which 250 were PWID and 2463 were non-PWID. Besides patient characteristics, treatment response, follow-up, and side effects of treatment were also analyzed. Results: Genotype 1a and 3 were more prevalent in PWID-infected patients (20.4% vs 9.9% and 46.8% vs 5.3%). The number of naïve patients was higher in PWID (90.7% vs 60.0%), while the number of patients with cirrhosis was higher in non-PWID (14.1% vs 3.7%). The loss of follow-up was higher in PWID (29.6% vs 13.6%). There was no difference in the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after treatment (98.3% vs 98.4%), but the end of treatment response was lower in PWID (96.2% vs 99.0%). In addition, the rate of treatment completion was lower in PWID (74% vs 94.4%). Conclusion: Direct-acting antivirals were safe and effective in PWID. Primary measures should be taken to prevent the loss of follow-up and poor adherence in PWID patients in order to achieve World Health Organization’s objective of eliminating viral hepatitis

MOLNUPIRAVIR COMPARED TO NIRMATRELVIR/RITONAVIR FOR COVID-19 IN HIGH-RISK PATIENTS WITH HAEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCY IN EUROPE. A MATCHED-PAIRED ANALYSIS FROM THE EPICOVIDEHA REGISTRY

Introduction: Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir are antivirals used to prevent progression to severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, which reduce both hospitalization and mortality rates. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was authorised in Europe in December 2021, while molnupiravir is not yet licensed in Europe as of February 2022. Molnupiravir may be an alternative to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, because it displays less frequent drug-drug interactions and contraindications. A caveat connected to molnupiravir derives from the mode of action inducing viral mutations. In clinical trials on patients without haematological malignancy, mortality rate reduction of molnupiravir appeared less pronounced than that of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Little is known about the comparative efficacy of the two drugs in patients with haematological malignancy at high-risk of severe COVID-19. Thus, we here assess the effectiveness of molnupiravir compared to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in our cohort of patients with haematological malignancies. Methods: Clinical data of patients treated either with molnupiravir or nirmatrelvir/ritonavir monotherapy for COVID-19 were retrieved from the EPICOVIDEHA registry. Patients treated with molnupiravir were matched by sex, age (±10 years), and baseline haematological malignancy severity to controls treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Results: A total of 116 patients receiving molnupiravir for the clinical management of COVID-19 were matched to an equal number of controls receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. In each of the groups, 68 (59%) patients were male; with a median age of 64 years (IQR 53-74) for molnupiravir recipients and 64 years (IQR 54-73) for nirmatrelvir/ritonavir recipients; 57% (n=66) of the patients had controlled baseline haematological malignancy, 13% (n=15) stable, and 30% (n=35) had active disease at COVID-19 onset in each of the groups. During COVID-19 infection, one third of patients from each group were admitted to hospital. Although a similar proportion of vaccinated patients was observed in both groups (molnupiravir n=77, 66% vs nirmatrelvir/ritonavir n=87, 75%), those treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir had more often received four doses (n=27, 23%) as compared to patients treated with molnupiravir (n=5, 4%, p<0.001). No differences were detected in COVID-19 severity (p=0.39) or hospitalization (p=1.0). No statistically significant differences were identified in overall mortality rate (p=0.78) or in survival probability (d30 p=0.19, d60 p=0.67, d90 p=0.68, last day of follow up p=0.68). In all patients, deaths were either attributed to COVID-19 or the infection contributed to death as per treating physician's judgement. Conclusions: In high-risk patients with haematological malignancies and COVID-19, molnupiravir showed rates of hospitalization and mortality comparable to those of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in this matched-pair analysis. Molnupiravir appears to be a plausible alternative to nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for COVID-19 treatment in patients with haematological malignancy

A Case of Oropharyngeal Tularemia Associated with Erythema Multiforme

Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis. Oropharyngeal tularemia is due to bacteria penetrating the oral mucosa during intake of contaminated water and food and is the common form seen in our country. A case of oropharyngeal tularemia associated with erythema multiforme is reported herein. Physicians should recognize the cutaneous lesions of tularemia and consider tularemia in patients with eruptions having an epidemiological history

Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease: A Case Report

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lympadenitis, is an uncommon clinical and patological autolimited feature of bening prognosis that may mimic many other diseases diagnosed chiefly in young adults. It is clinically significant because of possible misdiagnosis of other diseses such as malignant lymphoma or tuberculosis. Thus, an early biopsy is instrumental in making definite diagnosis and preventing unnecessary investigation. We described a case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease in a 22-year-old woman who presented with swollen lymph nodes and a fever. A rapid clinical improvement after lymph nodes excisional biopsy was remarkable. No treatment was given, and a full recovery was achived within six weeks. In this case had emphasized the clinical, histologic features, and outcome of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease

Clinical Features and Prognosis in Ocular Toxoplasmosis: A Review of 15 Cases

Ocular toxoplasmosis is one of the causes of severe visual loss in young people. We reviewed the records of 15 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis who were examined between 2003 and 2005. The diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis was established by detecting morphologically characteristic toxoplasmic fundus lesions in either eye by ophthalmologist. A positive serologic test for toxoplasmosis was used to support the diagnosis. All patients were treated. Our treatment protocol included the combination of primethamine and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol (TMP-SMX) or clindamicin and TMP-SMX or spiramycin and TMP-SMX with corticosteroid. Duration of treatment was average of four-six weeks. There were active lesions in 11 of the patients. There was also inflammation accompanied with chorioretinitis scars in four patients. Macular involvement were seen in three patients. Fourteen patients had unilateral and one had bilateral involvement. Retinochroidal lesions of 12 patient showed full regression. Relaps was seen in four patients. In conclusion, ocular toxoplasmosis seriously impairs vision acuity. Patients who have active choroidoretinitis of T. gondii should be treated and followed to avoid late compllications

Comparison of adefovir dipivoxil andpegylated interferon alpha-2a treatmentin chronic hepatitis B patients

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha 2a and adefovir dipivoxil treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: This study was performed on patients treated for chronic hepatitis B in the Infectious Disease Clinic of Eskişehir Osmangazi University between 01.09.2005 and 31.03.2008. A total of 30 patients aged between 18 and 65 years constituted the study group. One of patient groups received (10 HBeAg negative, 4 HBeAg positive) PEG-IFN alpha 2a at a dose of 180 μg/once a week, whereas the other group (11 HBeAg negative, 5 HBeAg positive) received daily oral doses of 10 mg ADV. Treatment responses were evaluated at week 48. RESULTS: Reductions in serum HBV DNA levels at the end of 48 weeks were 4.8 log10 copy/ml and 4.2 log10 copy/ml in HBeAg negative patients who received ADV or PEG-IFN alpha 2a, respectively. Biochemical response rates were 60% and 91% in PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, respectively. Among HBeAg positive patients, reductions in serum HBV DNA levels were 3. 2 log10 copy/ml and 4 log10 copy/ml in ADV and PEG-IFN alpha 2a groups, at week 48, respectively. Biochemical response rates were 50% and 40% in PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, respectively. No significant difference was determined in biochemical and virological responses in HBeAg positive and negative patients between PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV groups, at week 48. When both treatment groups were evaluated for side effects, it was observed that side effects were significantly common in PEG-IFN alpha 2a group. CONCLUSION: When we compared PEG-IFN alpha 2a and ADV treatment in both HBeAg positive and negative patients, biochemical and virological response rates at 48 weeks were similar

Etiology of Fever of Unknown Origin in Eskisehir

Introduction: Fever of unknown origin is first defined in 1961 as a temperature higher than 38.3°C lasting longer than 3 weeks, with a diagnosis that remains uncertain after 1 week of investigation. In this study, it’s aimed to evaluate etiology of fever of unknown origin cases hospitalized in department of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology. Patients and Methods: Fifty three fever of unknown origin cases hospitalized at our department between January 2002-August 2007 were evaluated retrospectively. Fever of unknown origin was diagnosed according to the criteria described by Petersdorf and Beeson. Patients with a history of immunosuppressive disease and nosocomial fever were excluded. Results: Median days with fever was 15.8 days (20-160 days), median days for diagnosis was 4.8 days (3-120 days). Seventeen (32.1%), 10 (18.9%) and 5 (9.4%) of the 53 cases were diagnosed as infection, collagen vascular disease and malignancy respectively. Eight (15.1%) of all cases were diagnosed as other diseases such as thyroiditis, pheochromocytoma, ulcerative collitis, and familial mediterrenean fever. Origins of the fever was not defined for 13 (24.5%) of the patients. Fever decreased spontaneously in 61.5% of undiagnosed patients at follow up. Invasive procedures were performed at 20.8% of whole cases. Conclusion: As a result infectious diseases are the leading causes of fever of unknown origin. For diagnosis routine tests should be performed first and then if necessary, more complicated or invasive tests may be performed. Endemic, regional infectious diseases should be considered primarily