AIDS-related opportunistic illnesses occurring after initiation of potent antiretroviral therapy: the Swiss HIV Cohort Study

Tuberculosis risk factors and mortality for HIV-infected persons receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa

OBJECTIVE

To determine important risk factors for and impact of tuberculosis on survival in HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa.

DESIGN

Prospective trial of 1771 HIV-infected patients with either CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/microl or a prior AIDS-defining illness, enrolled in randomized trial of four antiretroviral regimens.

METHODS

Data collected from patient records.

RESULTS

A history of tuberculosis at study entry was reported by 27% of patients and correlated with poor baseline health status. A history of tuberculosis at baseline was associated with subsequent tuberculosis and death during ART, but was not itself an independent risk factor for poor outcome. Tuberculosis was diagnosed during ART in 14% of patients and was more frequent during the first 3 months. Tuberculosis during therapy was independently associated with increased hazard of other AIDS-defining events and death, regardless of when during ART tuberculosis occurred. ART that consistently suppressed circulating viremia reduced but did not eliminate tuberculosis risk.

CONCLUSION

In HIV-infected patients who started ART at low CD4 cell counts, tuberculosis at baseline was a predictor of death, but was not independent of other factors indicating poor baseline health status. Tuberculosis during follow-up was, in contrast, an independent predictor of death even after adjustments for baseline risk factors, including CD4 cell count and viral load. Virologic failure during ART was associated with a 55% increase in risk of tuberculosis. Thus, tuberculosis is a major marker for poor outcome both at baseline and during ART and is not completely eliminated by fully suppressive ART.

Effect of baseline HIV disease parameters on CD4+ T cell recovery after antiretroviral therapy initiation in Kenyan women

BACKGROUND

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection reconstitutes the immune system and improves survival. However, the rate and extent of CD4+ T cell recovery varies widely. We assessed the impact of several factors on immune reconstitution in a large Kenyan cohort.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

HIV-infected female sex workers from a longitudinal cohort, with at least 1 year of pre-ART and 6 months of post-ART follow-up (n = 79), were enrolled in the current study. The median pre-ART follow-up was 4,040 days. CD4 counts were measured biannually and viral loads where available. The median CD4 count at ART initiation was 180 cells/ul, which increased to 339 cells/ul at the most recent study visit. The rate of CD4+ T cell increase on ART was 7.91 cells/month (mean = 13, range -25.92 to 169.4). LTNP status prior to ART initiation did not associate with the rate of CD4 recovery on ART. In univariate analyses, associations were observed for CD4 recovery rate and duration of pre-ART immunosuppression (r = -0.326, p = 0.004) and CD4 nadir (r = 0.284, p = 0.012). In multivariate analysis including age, CD4 nadir, duration of HIV infection, duration of pre-ART immunosuppression, and baseline viral load, only CD4 nadir (p = 0.007) and not duration of immunosuppression (p = 0.87) remained significantly associated with the rate of CD4 recovery.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

These data suggest that prior duration of immune suppression does not predict subsequent recovery once ART is initiated and confirm the previous observation that the degree of CD4 depletion prior to ART initiation is the most important determinant of subsequent immune reconstitution.

AIDS-defining opportunistic illnesses in US patients, 1994-2007: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the incidence and spectrum of AIDS-defining opportunistic illnesses in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (cART) era.

DESIGN

A prospective cohort study of 8070 participants in the HIV Outpatient Study at 12 U.S. HIV clinics.

METHODS

We calculated incidence rates per 1000 person-years of observation for the first opportunistic infection, first opportunistic malignancy, and first occurrence of each individual opportunistic illness during 1994-2007. Using stratified Poisson regression models, and adjusting for sex, race, and HIV risk category, we modeled annual percentage changes in opportunistic illness incidence rates by calendar period.

RESULTS

Eight thousand and seventy patients (baseline median age 38 years; median CD4 cell count 298 cells/microl) experienced 2027 incident opportunistic illnesses during a median of 2.9 years of observation. During 1994-1997, 1998-2002, and 2003-2007, respectively, rates of opportunistic infections (per 1000 person-years) were 89.0, 25.2 and 13.3 and rates of opportunistic malignancies were 23.4, 5.8 and 3.0 (P for trend <0.001 for both). Opportunistic illness rate decreases were similar for the subset of patients receiving cART. During 2003-2007, there were no significant changes in annual rates of opportunistic infections or opportunistic malignancies; the leading opportunistic illnesses (rate per 1000 person-years) were esophageal candidiasis (5.2), Pneumocystis pneumonia (3.9), cervical cancer (3.5), Mycobacterium avium complex infection (2.5), and cytomegalovirus disease (1.8); 36% opportunistic illness events occurred at CD4 cell counts at least 200 cells/microl.

CONCLUSIONS

Opportunistic illness rates declined precipitously after introduction of cART and stabilized at low levels during 2003-2007. In this contemporary cART era, a third of opportunistic illnesses were diagnosed at CD4 cell counts at least 200 cells/microl.

Incidence and determinants of new AIDS-defining illnesses after HAART initiation in a Senegalese cohort

BACKGROUND

Although a dramatic decrease in AIDS progression has been observed after Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) in both low- and high-resource settings, few data support that fact in low-resource settings.This study describes the incidence of AIDS-defining illnesses (ADI) after HAART initiation and analyzes their risk factors in a low-resource setting. A focus was put on CD4 cell counts and viral load measurements.

METHODS

404 HIV-1-infected Senegalese adult patients were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort and data censored as of April 2008. A Poisson regression was used to model the incidence of ADIs over two periods and to assess its association with baseline variables, current CD4, current viral load, CD4 response, and virological response.

RESULTS

ADI incidence declined from 20.5 ADIs per 100 person-years, 95% CI = [16.3;25.8] during the first year to 4.3, 95% CI = [2.3;8.1] during the fourth year but increased afterwards. Before 42 months, the decrease was greater in patients with clinical stage CDC-C at baseline and with a viral load remaining below 1000 cp/mL but was uniform across CD4 strata (p = 0.1). After 42 months, 293 patients were still at risk. The current CD4 and viral load were associated with ADI incidence (decrease of 21% per 50 CD4/mm3 and of 61% for patients with a viral load < 1000 cp/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

During the first four years, a uniform decline of ADI incidence was observed even in patients with low CD4-cell counts at HAART initiation as long as the viral load remained undetectable. An increase was noted later in patients with immunologic and virological failures but also in patients with only virological failure.

Sociocultural and epidemiological aspects of HIV/AIDS in Mozambique

Background

A legacy of colonial rule coupled with a devastating 16-year civil war through 1992 left Mozambique economically impoverished just as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic swept over southern Africa in the late 1980s. The crumbling Mozambican health care system was wholly inadequate to support the need for new chronic disease services for people with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Methods

To review the unique challenges faced by Mozambique as they have attempted to stem the HIV epidemic, we undertook a systematic literature review through multiple search engines (PubMed, Google Scholar™, SSRN, AnthropologyPlus, AnthroSource) using Mozambique as a required keyword. We searched for any articles that included the required keyword as well as the terms 'HIV' and/or 'AIDS', 'prevalence', 'behaviors', 'knowledge', 'attitudes', 'perceptions', 'prevention', 'gender', drugs, alcohol, and/or 'health care infrastructure'.

Results

UNAIDS 2008 prevalence estimates ranked Mozambique as the 8^th most HIV-afflicted nation globally. In 2007, measured HIV prevalence in 36 antenatal clinic sites ranged from 3% to 35%; the national estimate of was 16%. Evidence suggests that the Mozambican HIV epidemic is characterized by a preponderance of heterosexual infections, among the world's most severe health worker shortages, relatively poor knowledge of HIV/AIDS in the general population, and lagging access to HIV preventive and therapeutic services compared to counterpart nations in southern Africa. Poor education systems, high levels of poverty and gender inequality further exacerbate HIV incidence.

Conclusions

Recommendations to reduce HIV incidence and AIDS mortality rates in Mozambique include: health system strengthening, rural outreach to increase testing and linkage to care, education about risk reduction and drug adherence, and partnerships with traditional healers and midwives to effect a lessening of stigma.

Primary mutations selected in vitro with raltegravir confer large fold changes in susceptibility to first-generation integrase inhibitors, but minor fold changes to inhibitors with second-generation resistance profiles

Emergence of resistance to raltegravir reduces its treatment efficacy in HIV-1-infected patients. To delineate the effect of resistance mutations on viral susceptibility to integrase inhibitors, in vitro resistance selections with raltegravir and with MK-2048, an integrase inhibitor with a second-generation-like resistance profile, were performed. Mutation Q148R arose in four out of six raltegravir-selected resistant viruses. In addition, mutations Q148K and N155H were selected. In the same time frame, no mutations were selected with MK-2048. Q148H/K/R and N155H conferred resistance to raltegravir, but only minor changes in susceptibility to MK-2048. V54I, a previously unreported mutation, selected with raltegravir, was identified as a possible compensation mutation. Mechanisms by which N155H, Q148H/K/R, Y143R and E92Q confer resistance are proposed based on a structural model of integrase. These data improve the understanding of resistance against raltegravir and cross-resistance to MK-2048 and other integrase inhibitors, which will aid in the discovery of second-generation integrase inhibitors.

Bohlius J, Schmidlin K, Costagliola D, Fätkenheuer G, May M, Caro-Murillo AM, Mocroft A, Bonnet F, Clifford G, Karafoulidou A, Miro JM, Lundgren J, Chene G, Egger M. Incidence and risk factors of HIV-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy: a European multicohort study

BACKGROUND

Incidence and risk factors of HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are not well defined in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).

METHODS

A total of 56,305 adult HIV type-1 (HIV-1)-infected patients who started cART in 1 of 22 prospective studies in Europe were included. Weibull random effects models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for developing systemic NHL and included CD4(+) T-cell counts and viral load as time-updated variables.

RESULTS

During the 212,042 person-years of follow-up, 521 patients were diagnosed with systemic NHL and 62 with primary brain lymphoma (PBL). The incidence rate of systemic NHL was 463 per 100,000 person-years not on cART and 205 per 100,000 person-years in treated patients for a rate ratio of 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.37-0.53). The corresponding incidence rates of PBL were 57 and 24 per 100,000 person-years (rate ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.25-0.73). Suppression of HIV-1 replication on cART (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44-0.81, comparing < or =500 with 10,000-99,999 copies/ml) and increases in CD4(+) T-cell counts (HR 0.30, 0.22-0.42, comparing > or =350 with 100-199 cells/microl) were protective; a history of Kaposi's sarcoma (HR 1.70, 1.08-2.68, compared to no history of AIDS), transmission through sex between men (HR 1.57, 1.19-2.08, compared with heterosexual transmission) and older age (HR 3.71, 2.37-5.80, comparing > or =50 with 16-29 years) were risk factors for systemic NHL.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence rates of both systemic NHL and PBL were substantially reduced in patients on cART. Timely initiation of therapy is key to the prevention of NHL in the era of cART.

Antiretroviral therapy for control of the HIV-associated tuberculosis epidemic in resource-limited settings

Great progress has been made over the past few years in HIV testing in patients who have tuberculosis (TB) and in the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy. More than 3 million people in resource-limited settings were estimated to have started antiretroviral therapy by the end of 2007 and 2 million of these were in sub-Saharan Africa. However, little is known about what impact this massive public health intervention will have on the HIV-associated TB epidemic or how antiretroviral therapy might be used to best effect TB control. This article provides an in-depth review of these issues.

Short-term and long-term risk of tuberculosis associated with CD4 cell recovery during antiretroviral therapy in South Africa

OBJECTIVE

To determine the short-term and long-term risks of tuberculosis (TB) associated with CD4 cell recovery during antiretroviral therapy (ART).

DESIGN

Observational community-based ART cohort in South Africa.

METHODS

TB incidence was determined among patients (n = 1480) receiving ART for up to 4.5 years in a South African community-based service. Updated CD4 cell counts were measured 4-monthly. Person-time accrued within a range of CD4 cell count strata (CD4 cell strata) was calculated and used to derive CD4 cell-stratified TB rates. Factors associated with incident TB were identified using Poisson regression models.

RESULTS

Two hundred and three cases of TB were diagnosed during 2785 person-years of observation (overall incidence, 7.3 cases/100 person-years). During person-time accrued within CD4 cell strata 0-100, 101-200, 201-300, 301-400, 401-500 and more than 500 cells/microl unadjusted TB incidence rates were 16.8, 9.3, 5.5, 4.6, 4.2 and 1.5 cases/100 person-years, respectively (P < 0.001). During early ART (first 4 months), adjusted TB rates among those with CD4 cell counts 0-200 cells/microl were 1.7-fold higher than during long-term ART (P = 0.026). Updated CD4 cell counts were the only patient characteristic independently associated with long-term TB risk.

CONCLUSION

Updated CD4 cell counts were the dominant predictor of TB risk during ART in this low-resource setting. Among those with baseline CD4 cell counts less than 200 cells/microl, the excess adjusted risk of TB during early ART was consistent with 'unmasking' of disease missed at baseline screening. TB incidence rates at CD4 cell counts of 200-500 cells/microl remained high and adjunctive interventions are required. TB prevention would be improved by ART policies that minimized the time patients spend with CD4 cell counts below a threshold of 500 cells/microl.

Improved Outcome of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Plasmablastic Lymphoma of the Oral Cavity in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A Report of Two Cases

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a recently described type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that occurs in up to 3% of patients with HIV infection. Although the clinical-pathological features of several patients with HIV-associated plasmablastic lymphoma are documented, detailed description of clinical outcome is limited to isolated case reports. Generally, the response to lymphoma therapy is poor and survival is short. Response to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), however, has also been described. In this report, we describe the clinical course of two patients diagnosed with HIV-associated PBL in the era of HAART. One patient had a complete response to HAART, with a response-duration of 14 months, followed by relapse in the gastrointestinal tract several months after an anti-retroviral holiday. He is currently in complete remission (CR) eight months from diagnosis of relapse after receiving a full course of combination chemotherapy with modified CHOP, and 25 months from initial diagnosis. A second patient responded to brief chemotherapy in conjunction with HAART and is in clinical CR ten months from diagnosis. These cases illustrate that immunologic and virologic control with HAART may be beneficial for treating PBL and may possibly maintain continued CR. We advocate a high index of suspicion for primary PBL or its recurrence in patients with HIV infection, a history of low CD4 counts or high viral load, and oral or gastrointestinal symptoms.

CMV DNA levels and CMV gB subtypes in ART-naive HAART-treated patients: a 2-year follow-up study in The Netherlands

OBJECTIVE

In the pre-HAART period, HIV-1 patients were greatly at risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. In HAART-treated patients, the incidence of CMV disease has decreased dramatically and the timing and presentation of CMV infection may be different. Also the relevance of different CMV genotypes is part of debate.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 132 antiretroviral naive patients starting HAART were selected for a 2-year follow-up study in the Netherlands.

RESULTS

In 105 (80%) patients, CMV DNA were less than 100 copies/ml in all plasma samples during follow-up. In 27 (20%) patients, a detectable CMV load was found during follow-up. In seven patients, the initial decrease in HIV-1 loads during HAART was accompanied by an increase in CMV loads. Of 1348 plasma samples, only 50 (3.7%) samples were positive with a CMV load more of than 100 copies/ml plasma. CMV loads more than 1000 copies/ml were found only in samples with CD4 levels less than 250 x 10 cells/l and with detectable HIV-1 loads. CMV glycoprotein B (gB) typing was possible in 19 patients. Among these patients, including four patients with triple CMV infection and seven patients with double infection, the most prevalent genotype was gB3 (16x) followed by gB2 (9x), gB1 (5x) and gB4 (4x).

CONCLUSION

CMV disease during HAART is very unlikely as soon as the HIV-1 viral load becomes undetectable (<50 copies/ml) and/or CD4 cell levels are restored to more than 250 x 10 cells/l. Within Dutch HAART treated patients, infection with CMV gB3 is most prevalent, but also double or triple infection with other CMV gB strains are common.

Virological efficacy in HIV-infected patients affected by non-hodgkin lymphoma, treated with antiblastic chemotherapy and highly active antiretroviral therapy

This study evaluated replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the genotypic resistance pattern in 26 HIV-infected patients affected by non-Hodgkin lymphoma who were treated with at least 3 cycles of chemotherapy (CT; rituximab and CDE) and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Genotyping was performed at baseline and when virological failure occurred. Six patients met the virological failure criteria. The genotyping analysis demonstrated that during CT administration new mutations might occur, but no significant changes in the pre-existing resistance patterns were observed. The data show that a combination therapy consisting of CT and HAART is feasible and that the virological response can be maintained in the majority of such patients.

Diagnosis of antiretroviral therapy failure in Malawi: poor performance of clinical and immunological WHO criteria

OBJECTIVES

In antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale-up programmes in sub-Saharan Africa viral load monitoring is not recommended. We wanted to study the impact of only using clinical and immunological monitoring on the diagnosis of virological ART failure under routine circumstances.

METHODS

Clinicians in two urban ART clinics in Malawi used clinical and immunological monitoring to identify adult patients for switching to second-line ART. If patients met clinical and/or immunological failure criteria of WHO guidelines and had a viral load <400 copies/ml there was misclassification of virological ART failure.

RESULTS

Between January 2006 and July 2007, we identified 155 patients with WHO criteria for immunological and/or clinical failure. Virological ART failure had been misclassified in 66 (43%) patients. Misclassification was significantly higher in patients meeting clinical failure criteria (57%) than in those with immunological criteria (30%). On multivariate analysis, misclassification was associated with being on ART <2 years [OR = 7.42 (2.63, 20.95)] and CD4 > 200 cells/microl [OR = 5.03 (2.05, 12.34)]. Active tuberculosis and Kaposi's sarcoma were the most common conditions causing misclassification of virological ART failure.

CONCLUSION

Misclassification of virological ART failure occurs frequently using WHO clinical and immunological criteria of ART failure for poor settings. A viral load test confirming virological ART failure is therefore advised to avoid unnecessary switching to second-line regimens.

Italian consensus statement on management of HIV-infected individuals with advanced disease naïve to antiretroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

Individuals with advanced HIV infection naïve to antiretroviral therapy represent a special population of patients frequently encountered in clinical practice. They are at high risk of disease progression and death, and their viroimmunologic response following the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy may be more incomplete or slower than that of other patients. Infection management in such patients can also be complicated by underlying conditions, comorbidities, and the need for concomitant medications.

AIM

To provide practical guidelines to those clinicians providing care to HIV-infected patients in terms of diagnostic assessment, monitoring, and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The principals of antiretroviral treatment in asymptomatic naïve patients with advanced HIV infection are the same as those applicable to the general population with asymptomatic HIV infection. Naïve patients with advanced HIV infection and a history of AIDS-defining illnesses urgently need antiretroviral treatment, with the choice of antiretroviral regimen and timetable based on such factors as concomitant treatment and prophylaxis, drug interactions, and potential concomitant drug toxicity. Finally, an adequate counseling program - both before and after HIV-testing - that includes aspects other than treatment adherence monitoring is a crucial step in disease management.

Non-AIDS-defining malignancies in HIV-infected persons: etiologic puzzles, epidemiologic perils, prevention opportunities

Non-AIDS-defining malignancies have come to represent a growing fraction of the overall cancer burden in HIV-infected people, as improvements in HIV therapy prolong survival and reduce the incidence of AIDS-associated cancers. This review focuses on five non-AIDS-defining malignancies for which HIV-infected persons have an elevated risk, for which risk is substantial or increasing over time, and for which HIV infection may play an etiologic role. Among HIV-infected persons, lung cancer risk is high, in part due to frequent tobacco use in this population. Risks of anal cancer and liver cancer are also elevated, related to the high prevalence of infections with human papillomavirus and hepatitis B and C viruses. In addition, risk is elevated for Hodgkin lymphoma and several rare skin cancers, including Merkel cell carcinoma and sebaceous carcinoma. For anal cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma, it is particularly concerning that incidence in HIV-infected persons has risen in recent years, when highly active antiretroviral therapy has been available. Accumulating evidence supports the possibility that the high prevalence of known carcinogenic exposures (e.g., tobacco) and infections with oncogenic viruses does not completely explain the occurrence of these cancers. Indeed, HIV may act to increase the risk for each of these five non-AIDS-defining malignancies, although the mechanisms may vary, including immunosuppression, immune reconstitution, and chronic inflammation. These non-AIDS-defining cancers also present important opportunities for prevention (e.g., smoking cessation), screening (e.g., periodic anal Pap smear screening), and early detection.

Treatment-dependent loss of polyfunctional CD8+ T-cell responses in HIV-infected kidney transplant recipients is associated with herpesvirus reactivation

Antiretroviral-therapy has dramatically changed the course of HIV infection and HIV-infected (HIV(+)) individuals are becoming more frequently eligible for solid-organ transplantation. However, only scarce data are available on how immunosuppressive (IS) strategies relate to transplantation outcome and immune function. We determined the impact of transplantation and immune-depleting treatment on CD4+ T-cell counts, HIV-, EBV-, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-viral loads and virus-specific T-cell immunity in a 1-year prospective cohort of 27 HIV(+) kidney transplant recipients. While the results show an increasing breadth and magnitude of the herpesvirus-specific cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) response over-time, they also revealed a significant depletion of polyfunctional virus-specific CTL in individuals receiving thymoglobulin as a lymphocyte-depleting treatment. The disappearance of polyfunctional CTL was accompanied by virologic EBV-reactivation events, directly linking the absence of specific polyfunctional CTL to viral reactivation. The data provide first insights into the immune-reserve in HIV+ infected transplant recipients and highlight new immunological effects of thymoglobulin treatment. Long-term studies will be needed to assess the clinical risk associated with thymoglobulin treatment, in particular with regards to EBV-associated lymphoproliferative diseases.

Incidence of noninfectious conditions in perinatally HIV-infected children and adolescents in the HAART era

OBJECTIVE

To estimate highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-era incident rates for the first episode of noninfectious conditions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected youth in order to identify HAART-era changes in the natural history of perinatal HIV infection.

DESIGN

Multicenter prospective cohort study.

SETTING

More than 80 sites in the United States including Puerto Rico.

PATIENTS

Perinatally HIV-infected youth.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence rates (IRs) per 100 person-years were calculated for targeted noninfectious conditions occurring in perinatally HIV-infected children. A chi(2) test for linear trend was used to evaluate changes in the rates from 2001 to 2006.

RESULTS

Two thousand five hundred seventy-five perinatally HIV-infected children (51%, female; 59%, black, non-Hispanic) were enrolled in Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group (PACTG) 219C between 2000 and 2006 and were followed up for a median of 59 months. The 10 most common noninfectious conditions were pregnancy conditions (IR = 6.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.9-9.3), birth defects (IR = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.1-0.3), gynecological dysplasias (IR = 5.92; 95% CI, 3.9-8.6), condyloma (IR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.1-0.2), encephalopathy (IR = 0.38; 95% CI, 0.3-0.5), pancreatitis (IR = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4), cardiac disorders (IR = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4), renal disorders (IR = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4), peripheral neuropathy (IR = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4), and idiopathic thrombocytic purpura (IR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.1-0.3). Among these conditions, 5 showed significant trends, with IRs increasing over time in pregnancy-related conditions (P < .001) and gynecological dysplasias (P = .02) while IRs decreased over time for encephalopathy (P < .001), pancreatitis (P = .002), and cardiac disorders (P = .007).

CONCLUSIONS

Between 2001 and 2006, the incidence for 3 conditions decreased and increased for 2 others, demonstrating the change in medical issues and conditions in perinatally infected youth. Continued surveillance with appropriate tools will be needed to assess the long-term effects of HAART and HIV as well as development of new noninfectious conditions of HIV.

Do antiretrovirals reduce the risk of non-AIDS-defining malignancies?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There is an increasing burden of non-AIDS-defining malignancies (NADMs) in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era. The recent literature is reviewed with respect to NADM risk, ART use, and immune function.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have increasingly focused on individual ART use, CD4 T-cell counts, and the risk of NADMs. Certain NADMs have been shown to have a reduced risk with ART use including liver, breast, colorectal, and lung cancers. NADMs associated with immunosuppression included Hodgkin's lymphoma, oral/pharynx, lung, anal, and colorectal cancers. Despite the potential protective effect of ART on some NADMs, recent studies evaluating calendar era trends have noted an increased risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma and anal cancer and no change in risk for lung cancer in the ART era.

SUMMARY

Successful ART use and improvements in immune function for HIV-infected persons may reduce the risk of certain NADMs. However, a continued high risk in the ART era for certain cancers have been observed, including Hodgkin's lymphoma and anal cancers. Future studies should monitor trends in NADMs in HIV-infected persons in the ART era, as well as changes in the prevalence of risk factors, coinfections, and screening practices in this population.

Low prevalence of detectable HIV plasma viremia in patients treated with antiretroviral therapy in Burkina Faso and Mali

BACKGROUND

Sub-Saharan Africa has seen dramatic increases in the numbers of people treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Although standard ART regimens are now universally applied, viral load measurement is not currently part of standard monitoring protocols in sub-Saharan Africa.

METHODS

We describe the prevalence of inadequate virological response (IVR) to ART (viral load >or= 500 copies/mL) and identify factors associated with this outcome in 606 HIV-positive patients treated for at least 6 months. Recruitment took place in 7 hospitals and community-based sites in Bamako and Ouagadougou, and information was collected using medical charts and interviews.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of IVR in treatment-naive patients was 12.3% and 24.4% for pretreated patients. There were no differences in rates of IVR according to ART delivery sites and time on treatment. Patients living farther away [odds ratio (OR) = 2.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40 to 4.39], those on protease inhibitor or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor regimens (OR = 3.23; 95% CI 1.79 to 5.82) and those reporting treatment interruptions (OR = 2.36; 95% CI 1.35 to 4.15), had increased odds of IVR. Immune suppression (OR = 3.32, 95% CI 1.94 to 5.70) and poor self-rated health (OR = 2.00; 95% CI 1.17 to 3.41) were also associated with IVR.

CONCLUSIONS

Sufficient expertise and dedication exist in public hospital and community-based programs to achieve rates of treatment success comparable to better-resourced settings.

Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the incidence of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations and mortality among children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be evaluated using indicators, such as rates of opportunistic infections, hospitalizations by cause of infection, and associated death. This study aimed to estimate the impact of HAART on the incidence of these indicators, in children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. It was a hybrid cohort study; 371 patients were followed from 1989 to 2003. In December 2003, 76% of the patients were still being followed, while 12.1% had died, 9.5% had dropped out, and 2.4% had been transferred. The overall rate of opportunistic infections was 18.32 infections/100 persons-year and 2.63 in the pre- and post-HAART periods, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of developing an opportunistic infection was 5.4 times greater and 3.3 times greater for hospitalization risk before HAART. Respiratory causes represented 65% of the hospitalizations and they were reduced by 44.6% with therapeutic intervention. The average hospital stay of 15 days was reduced to 9. There was a post-HAART decline in deaths of 38%. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of HAART in significantly reducing opportunistic infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in this Brazilian cohort.

Trends in bacteremia in the pre- and post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era among HIV-infected children in the US Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study (1986-2004)

OBJECTIVE

HIV-infected children are at high risk for bacteremia. Highly active antiretroviral therapy has reduced rates of opportunistic infections; less is known about its effect on pediatric bacteremia rates. Thus, we sought to determine its impact on bacteremia incidence in HIV-infected children.

METHODS

Children born during 1986-1998 were followed until 2004 in the Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study. We determined the pre- and post-highly active antiretroviral therapy (before and after January 1, 1997) incidence of bacteremia among HIV-infected children and characterized the CD4% temporal declines and mortality among patients with and those without incident bacteremias.

RESULTS

Among 364 children, 68 had 118 documented bacteremias, 97 before and 21 after January 1, 1997. Streptococcus pneumoniae constituted 56 (58%) pre- and 13 (62%) post-highly active antiretroviral therapy cases. The incidence rate ratio of bacteremias comparing post- versus pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy was 0.3 overall and 0.2, 0.2, and 0.4 among children aged 0 to 24, 25 to 48, and 49 to 72 months, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis for time to first bacteremia in children born during the pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy compared with the post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era revealed that 69% and 94%, respectively, remained bacteremia free at a median follow-up of 6 years. The Cox proportional hazards model also showed a significant reduction of bacteremias in the post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era, even after controlling for gender and race. Among children <6 years of age, those who experienced bacteremia had faster temporal CD4% decline than those who never had bacteremia. Survival analysis revealed that HIV-infected children with bacteremia experienced higher overall mortality when controlling for gender, race, and clinic site.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant decrease in bacteremia incidence and a prolongation in the time to first bacteremia incident were seen in the post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era. Children with a steeper decline of CD4 T cells were more likely to develop bacteremia. Children who experienced bacteremia had an associated higher mortality than their bacteremia-free counterparts.

Frequency of HIV-related medication errors and associated risk factors in hospitalized patients

BACKGROUND

Retrospective studies of hospitalized HIV-infected patients have noted a high occurrence of drug-related errors, ranging from 5% to 30%.

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively evaluate errors in antiretroviral (ARV) prescribing in the inpatient setting of a hospital tertiary care center and the association of risk factors with the occurrence of errors.

METHODS

HIV-infected patients who received care and continued their ARVs for HIV infection on admission to a large academic teaching hospital between January and April 2006 were included in this study. The care and assessment of these patients was conducted on a daily basis by an infectious diseases/HIV specialized clinical pharmacist. All errors were documented and classified based on a severity scale.

RESULTS

Among the 68 patients who met the study's eligibility criteria, at least one error in the initial HIV regimen occurred in 72% of patients, and in 56% of patients, the error had the potential to cause moderate-to-severe discomfort or clinical deterioration. Patients on atazanavir-based therapy had a statistically significant increased occurrence of errors throughout their hospitalization (RR = 1.69; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.78; p = 0.02). Receiving nonformulary (combination) HIV medications increased patients' risk of having more than one error occur in their ARV regimen on admission and during hospitalization (RR = 1.95; 95% CI 1.25 to 3.04; p = 0.02). The clinical pharmacist recommendations had 100% acceptance.

CONCLUSIONS

The alarmingly high frequency of potentially harmful errors uncovered in this study necessitates further investigation using larger sample sizes. Interventions to reduce and prevent these errors must be sought to eliminate the unintended harm associated with hospitalization.

CD4+ T-lymphocytes natural decrease in HAART-naïve HIV-infected adults in Abidjan

OBJECTIVE

To study the CD4 natural decrease and its determinants in sub-Saharan African HIV-infected adults.

METHOD

We performed a 7-year prospective cohort study, with biannual CD4 measurement. Follow-up was censored at the first severe morbidity event or at HAART initiation. Changes in CD4 values were studied by jointly modelling (a) the correlation between repeated measures through a linear mixed model and (b) the time to drop-out through a survival model.

RESULTS

690 patients were followed up during 1,382 person-years. Contrasting with the baseline CD4 count and percentage, which were associated with numerous variables, the slopes of both CD4 count and CD4 percentage in the absence of severe morbidity episode were only associated with the follow-up time and with the baseline body mass index (BMI). The mean annual natural decrease in CD4 count (CD4%) was estimated at -81/mm3 (-2.2%), -69/mm3 (-1.7%), and -55/mm3 (-1.2%) for patients with baseline BMI at 16 kg/m2, 20.4 kg/m2, and 25 kg/m2, respectively (p < .001). A steeper decline in the CD4 count was independently associated with a shorter event-free follow-up time.

CONCLUSION

These estimates of the CD4 natural decrease in sub-Saharan African patients, while they did not experience any episode of severe morbidity and before they initiate HAART, are in the bracket of those previously reported in industrialized countries. In sub-Saharan African settings with CD4 count being measured less frequently than in industrialized countries, the CD4 should be monitored more closely among adults with low BMI.

Polymorphous hemangioendothelioma in a child with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Polymorphous hemangioendotheliomas (PH) are rare and borderline malignant tumors that are among the wide range of vascular tumors. We report here a 13-year-old male presenting with a history of weight loss, opportunistic infections, and lymphadenopathy. He was determined to be HIV positive and to have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A biopsy of a femoral node was diagnostic of PH. His systemic lymphadenopathy appeared to resolve with anti-retroviral therapy. This tumor should be considered within the differential diagnoses of pediatric and immunocompromised patients.

Comparative radiological features of disseminated disease due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis vs non-tuberculosis mycobacteria among AIDS patients in Brazil

Background

Disseminated mycobacterial disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV-infection. Nonspecific clinical presentation makes the diagnosis difficult and sometimes neglected.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare the presentation of disseminated Mycobacterial tuberculosis (MTB) and non-tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) disease in HIV-positive patients from 1996 to 2006 in Brazil.

Results

Tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed in 65 patients (67.7%) and NTM in 31 (32.3%) patients. Patients with NTM had lower CD4 T cells counts (median 13.0 cells/mm³ versus 42.0 cells/mm³, P = 0.002). Patients with tuberculosis had significantly more positive acid-fast smears (48.0% vs 13.6%, P = 0.01). On chest X-ray, miliary infiltrate was only seen in patients with MTB (28.1% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.01). Pleural effusion was more common in patients with MTB (45.6% vs. 13.0%, P = 0.01). Abdominal adenopathy (73.1% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.003) and splenic hypoechoic nodules (38.5% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.002) were more common in patients with TB.

Conclusion

Miliary pulmonary pattern on X-ray, pleural effusion, abdominal adenopathy, and splenic hypoechoic nodules were imaging findings associated with the diagnosis of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients. Recognition of these imaging features will help to distinguish TB from NTM in AIDS patients with fever of unknown origin due to disseminated mycobacterial disease.

Poor predictive value of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cell assays for the development of CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS

BACKGROUND

We examined the potential clinical utility of using a cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cell immunoassay to determine the risk of developing new-onset CMV retinitis (CMVR) in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

METHODS

CMV-specific T cell assays were performed by multiparameter flow cytometry using stored peripheral blood mononuclear cells that had been obtained in an observational study 2-6 months before new-onset CMVR was diagnosed in case patients (at a study visit during which a dilated ophthalmologic examination revealed no evidence of CMVR) and at the same study visit in control subjects (matched by absolute CD4(+) T cell count at entry) who did not subsequently develop retinitis during 1-6 years of study follow-up.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in CMV-specific CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cell interferon-gamma or interleukin-2 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from case patients and control subjects. Although there were trends toward lower percentages and absolute numbers of CMV-specific, cytokine-expressing CD8(+) T cells with a "late memory" phenotype (CD27(-)CD28(-)) as well as with an "early memory" phenotype (CD27(+)CD28(+)CD45RA(+)) in case patients than in control subjects, these differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Many studies have reported that CMV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses distinguish patients with active CMVR (i.e., who lack CMV-protective immunity) from those with inactive CMVR after immune restoration by antiretroviral treatment (i.e., who have CMV-protective immunity). However, the multiple CMV-specific immune responses we measured do not appear to have clinical utility for predicting the risk for patients with AIDS of developing new-onset CMVR with sufficient accuracy to be used in guiding therapeutic management.

Changes in the incidence and predictors of human immunodeficiency virus-associated dementia in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE

Though effective anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapies are now available, they have variable penetration into the brain. We therefore aimed to assess changes over calendar time in the risk for HIV-associated dementia (HIV-D), and factors associated with HIV-D risk.

METHODS

Using Concerted Action on Seroconversion to AIDS and Death in Europe (CASCADE) data, we analyzed factors associated with time from HIV seroconversion to HIV-D using Cox models with time-updated covariates. The effect of duration of infection was explored using flexible parametric survival models.

RESULTS

222 of 15,380 seroconverters developed HIV-D. The incidence per 1,000 person-years was 6.49 pre-1997 (before highly active antiretroviral therapy was available), declining to 0.66 by 2003 to 2006. Compared with most recent CD4 count > or = 350 cells/mm3, the adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) of HIV-D was 3.47 (1.91-6.28), 10.19 (5.72-18.15), and 39.03 (22.96-66.36) at 200 to 349, 100 to 199, and 0 to 99 cells/mm3, respectively. In 2003 to 2006, older age at seroconversion (relative risk = 3.24 per 10-year increase [95% confidence interval, 2.00-5.24]) and previous acquired immune deficiency syndrome diagnosis (relative risk = 4.92 [95% confidence interval, 1.43-16.92]) were associated with HIV-D risk, independently of current CD4 count. HIV-D risk appeared to increase during chronic infection, by 48% at 10 years after seroconversion compared with the lowest risk at 1.8 years.

INTERPRETATION

HIV-D incidence has reduced markedly since 1997. However, patients with low (<200 cells/mm3) or even intermediate (200-349 cells/mm3) CD4 counts, previous acquired immune deficiency syndrome diagnosis, longer HIV infection duration, and older age at seroconversion are at increased risk and should be closely monitored for neurocognitive disorders.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE

To assess the long-term effect of HAART on non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) incidence in people with HIV (PHIV).

DESIGN

Follow-up of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).

METHODS

Between 1984 and 2006, 12 959 PHIV contributed a total of 75 222 person-years (py), of which 36 787 were spent under HAART. Among these PHIV, 429 NHL cases were identified from the SHCS dataset and/or by record linkage with Swiss Cantonal Cancer Registries. Age- and gender-standardized incidence was calculated and Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR).

RESULTS

NHL incidence reached 13.6 per 1000 py in 1993-1995 and declined to 1.8 in 2002-2006. HAART use was associated with a decline in NHL incidence [HR = 0.26; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.20-0.33], and this decline was greater for primary brain lymphomas than other NHL. Among non-HAART users, being a man having sex with men, being 35 years of age or older, or, most notably, having low CD4 cell counts at study enrollment (HR = 12.26 for < 50 versus >or= 350 cells/microl; 95% CI, 8.31-18.07) were significant predictors of NHL onset. Among HAART users, only age was significantly associated with NHL risk. The HR for NHL declined steeply in the first months after HAART initiation (HR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.27-0.77) and was 0.12 (95% CI, 0.05-0.25) 7 to10 years afterwards.

CONCLUSIONS

HAART greatly reduced the incidence of NHL in PHIV, and the influence of CD4 cell count on NHL risk. The beneficial effect remained strong up to 10 years after HAART initiation.

Invasive anal squamous-cell carcinoma in the HIV-positive patient: outcome in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of invasive anal squamous-cell carcinoma in patients with HIV is increasing. We report the outcome after combined chemoradiotherapy for anal squamous-cell carcinoma in HIV-infected individuals.

METHODS

Thirty-two HIV-positive patients treated at the St. Vincent's Cancer Care Center for anal squamous-cell carcinoma from 1997 through mid 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients also received highly active antiretroviral therapy. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy concurrent with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in most patients. Overall survival, anal cancer-specific survival, local recurrence, and toxicity were assessed.

RESULTS

Median time from completion of radiotherapy to last follow-up of surviving patients was 35 months. Five-year locoregional relapse, anal cancer-specific survival, and overall survival were 16 , 75, and 65 percent, respectively. In multivariate analysis, locoregional recurrence, cancer-specific survival, and overall survival were all significantly associated with tumor size. Overall survival was independently associated with high viral load and low CD4 count. Acute toxicity included: Grade 3 skin in 25 percent of patients, Grade 3 diarrhea: 28 percent, and Grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicity in 21 and 48 percent, respectively. More than two-thirds of patients required radiotherapy interruption. There was no negative impact of chemoradiotherapy on viral load.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcome after chemoradiotherapy for HIV-related anal squamous-cell carcinoma in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy is comparable to outcome in patients without HIV. However, significant toxicity is seen with standard treatment regimens. Earlier diagnosis and risk-adapted therapy could lead to improved survival and decreased treatment-related morbidity.

Complement-HIV interactions during all steps of viral pathogenesis

Upon crossing the endothelial barrier of the host, HIV initiates immediate responses of the immunity system. Among its components, the complement system is one of the first the first elements, which are activated to affect HIV propagation. Complement participates not only in the early phase of the immune response, but its effects can be observed continuously and also concern the induction and modification of the adaptive immune response. Here we discuss the role of complement in early and late stages of HIV pathogenesis and review the escape mechanisms, which protect HIV from destruction by the complement system.

Cytomegalovirus retinitis: the neglected disease of the AIDS pandemic

The authors describe CMV retinitis in resource-poor settings and suggest possibilities for management.

AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining malignancies: cancer occurrence in the antiretroviral therapy era

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Effective antiretroviral therapy use has resulted in a large number of older individuals living with HIV. Recent literature is reviewed with respect to the incidence and risk factors for cancer in HIV patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Previous studies have demonstrated substantial declines in AIDS-defining malignancies in the era of antiretroviral therapy, with clear links to better immune function. Increases in non-AIDS-defining malignancies such as Hodgkin's disease, skin, lung, anal, and kidney cancers have been noted by some but not all authors. Certain non-AIDS-defining malignancies may be related to immunodeficiency, although data are conflicting. Recent studies have indicated that confounding by traditional risk factors, including cigarette use, may account for some of the increased risk of lung and other cancers in HIV patients.

SUMMARY

Non-AIDS-defining malignancies account for more morbidity and mortality than AIDS-defining malignancies in the antiretroviral therapy era. Traditional risk factors play a significant role in the increased risk of non-AIDS-defining malignancies for HIV-infected individuals, but do not entirely explain the excess cancer risk. Unanswered questions remain including the relationship of immunodeficiency and the risk of site-specific non-AIDS-defining malignancies, and the effect of antiretroviral therapy duration and drug class on cancer risk.

Improved survival in HIV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with the addition of rituximab to chemotherapy in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy

PURPOSE

Recent trials suggest serious toxicity in HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with rituximab (R) and chemotherapy (CT), offsetting the benefit of rituximab.

METHOD

We retrospectively reviewed experience with CHOP-R vs. CT in 40 patients with HIV-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) diagnosed between December 1992 and February 2006, all of whom were treated with curative intent.

RESULTS

In a univariate analysis, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, prior AIDS, HAART, and rituximab were significant for overall survival (OS). In a multivariate analysis, IPI 0-1 (p < .02), no prior AIDS (p < .0002), and receiving CHOP-R (p < .01) were significant for improved OS, and HAART use (p < .09) retained a trend for improved OS. The hazard ratio (HR) for patients with high IPI receiving CHOP-R was 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.8). Patients without prior AIDS receiving CHOP-R had an HR of 0.5 (95% CI 0.1-1.7). The OS at 30 months in patients not receiving HAART was 0%. With HAART, OS was 33% for CT and 86% for CHOP-R; HR for CHOP-R was 0.4 (95% CI 0.1-1.2). Toxic deaths were 3 (33%) for CHOP-R and 6 (25%) for CT (p = ns); all toxic deaths with CHOP-R were in patients not receiving HAART. Rituximab-treated patients had a lower death rate from lymphoma (CHOP-R, 2 [16%] vs. CT, 15 [63%]; p < .04), and overall mortality (CHOP-R, 5 [42%] vs. CT, 21 [88%]; p < .01).

CONCLUSION

These retrospective data suggest that fatal toxicity of rituximab in HIV-NHL is not increased provided HAART is used, that the addition of rituximab to CT improved outcome, and that further prospective trials investigating this issue are warranted.

Use of a population-based survey to determine incidence of AIDS-defining opportunistic illnesses among HIV-positive persons receiving medical care in the United States

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of an opportunistic illness (OI) in a person with HIV infection is a sentinel event, indicating opportunities for improving diagnosis of HIV infection and secondary prevention efforts. In the past, rates of OIs in the United States have been calculated in observational cohorts, which may have limited representativeness.

METHODS

We used data from a 1998 population-based survey of persons in care for HIV infection to demonstrate the utility of population-based survey data for the calculation of OI rates, with inference to populations in care for HIV infection in three geographic areas: King County Washington, selected health districts in Louisiana, and the state of Michigan.

RESULTS

The overall OI rate was 13.8 per 100 persons with HIV infection in care during 1998 (95% CI, 10.2-17.3). In 1998, an estimated 11.3% of all persons with HIV in care in these areas had at least one OI diagnosis (CI, 8.8-13.9). The most commonly diagnosed OIs were Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) (annual incidence 2.4 per 100 persons, CI 1.0-3.8) and cytomegalovirus retinitis (annual incidence 2.4 per 100 persons, CI 1.0-3.7). OI diagnosis rates were higher in Michigan than in the other two geographic areas, and were different among patients who were white, black and of other races, but were not different by sex or history of injection drug use.

CONCLUSION

Data from population-based surveys - and, in the coming years, clinical outcomes surveillance systems in the United States - can be used to calculate OI rates with improved generalizability, and such rates should be used in the future as a meaningful indicator of clinical outcomes in persons with HIV infection in care.

Incidence and risk factors of major opportunistic infections after initiation of antiretroviral therapy among advanced HIV-infected patients in a resource-limited setting

OBJECTIVE

To study incidence, risk factors, and impact of major opportunistic infections (OIs) after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART).

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among naïve HIV-infected patients who were initiated ART during January 2003-December 2004. All patients were followed until 15 months after ART.

RESULTS

There were 793 patients with mean+/-SD age of 35.2+/-7.4 years and 56.3% male. Median (IQR) CD4 was 26 (9-78) cells/mm3. Of 793 patients, 61 (8%) patients developed 81 episodes of OIs after ART. These included tuberculosis (48.1%), CMV retinitis (19.8%), MAC infection (14.8%), PCP (9.9%), cryptococcosis (6.2%) and penicilliosis (1.2%). Overall incidence of new episode of OIs after ART was 8.0% during the first year of ART. Probabilities of OIs at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after ART were 2.6%, 4.0%, 5.3%, 6.9% and 8.0%, respectively. Baseline CD4 < or = 50 cells/mm3, male gender, and low body weight were associated with higher incidence of OIs after ART (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Most of new episodes of major OIs develop within the first three months after ART. Tuberculosis is the most frequent OIs in this situation. The substantial increase of new episode of OIs after ART was observed among HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell counts < or = 50 cells/mm3 at ART initiation.

Late Presentation of HIV-Infected Individuals

Late presentation remains a major concern despite the dramatically improved prognosis realized by ART. We define a first presentation for HIV care during the course of HIV infection as ‘late’ if an AIDS-defining opportunistic disease is apparent, or if CD4+ T-cells are <200/μl. In the Western world, approximately 10 and 30% of HIV-infected individuals still present with CD4+ T-cells <50 and <200/μl, respectively; estimates are substantially higher for developing countries. Diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic diseases and intense supportive in-hospital care take precedence over ART. Benefits of starting ART without delay, that is, when opportunistic diseases are still active, include faster resolution of opportunistic diseases and a decreased risk of recurrence. The downside of starting ART without delay could include toxicity, drug interactions and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Among asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic individuals presenting late, where ART and primary prophylaxis are initiated, ∼10–20% will become symptomatic from drug toxicity or undiagnosed opportunistic complications, including IRIS, which require appropriate therapies. In this review we describe late presentation to HIV care, the scale of the problem, the evaluation of a late-presenting patient and challenges associated with initiation of potent anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in the setting of acute opportunistic infections and other comorbidities.

Prolonged survival of an HIV-infected patient with plasmablastic lymphoma of the oral cavity

Plasmablastic lymphoma is an aggressive subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that is mainly observed in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and it tends to arise in the oral cavity. We present a case of an HIV-infected patient with plasmablastic lymphoma with prolonged survival. The 30-yr-old woman was found to have an oral lesion at the time of the diagnosis of HIV infection. Histological and immunochemical examination of biopsy of the oral lesion showed plasmablastic lymphoma (CD138+). She received two cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisolone (CHOP) that started 10 weeks after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. The continuing pancytopenia and an adenoviral febrile infection did not permit further antineoplastic treatment. A gradual decrease of the oral lesion was noted after the second cycle of chemotherapy that led to the disappearance of the lesion 7 months later. The patient remains in complete remission 61 months after the diagnosis of plasmablastic lymphoma.

Deficient in vitro anti-mycobacterial immunity despite successful long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients with past history of tuberculosis infection or disease

We evaluated the anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) immune responses of HIV patients after long-term successful HAART, presenting >500 TCD4+ cells/microl, undetectable viral load, and past history of tuberculosis infection (HIV+PPD+, n=14) or disease (HIV+CTB, n=17). Their lymphoproliferative and IFN-gamma responses were compared with those from HIV-uninfected controls either PPD+ (HIV-PPD+, n=17) or with past history of pulmonary tuberculosis (n=15). Most HIV-infected patients presented normal PHA responses while responses to the Mtb recombinant polypeptides ESAT-6 and Ag85B were markedly reduced. Responses to a whole Mtb lysate (S-Mtb) in HIV+PPD+ patients were lower than in HIV-PPD+ controls, while in HIV+CTB patients these responses were similar to that of past-tuberculosis controls. Comparison between the two HIV groups also suggested better S-Mtb responses in those cured from tuberculosis. Thus, while immune responses to single Mtb proteins are depressed even after successful HAART, reactivity to S-Mtb is high, specially in those cured from tuberculosis, possibly as a result of the survival of higher numbers of mycobacteria-specific T cell clones during the immunosuppression phase, which may afford sufficient protection against new Mtb challenges.

Trends in opportunistic infections in the pre- and post-highly active antiretroviral therapy eras among HIV-infected children in the Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study, 1986-2004

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on the incidence and prevalence of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected children.

METHODS

Children born from 1986 to 1998 were monitored until 2004 in the Perinatal AIDS Collaborative Transmission Study, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We determined the pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy and post-highly active antiretroviral therapy (before and after January 1, 1997, respectively) incidence rates of opportunistic infections among HIV-infected children and characterized the temporal decreases in percentages of CD4+ cells and the mortality rates among patients with and those without incident opportunistic infections.

RESULTS

The overall opportunistic infection incidence declined from 14.4 to 1.1 cases per 100 patient-years; statistically significant reductions were seen in the incidence of the most common opportunistic infections, including Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (5.8 vs 0.3 cases per 100 patient-years), recurrent bacterial infections (4.7 vs 0.2 cases per 100 patient-years), extraocular cytomegalovirus infection (1.4 vs 0.1 cases per 100 patient-years), and disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infection (1.3 vs 0.2 cases per 100 patient-years). Kaplan-Meier analysis of time from birth to the first opportunistic infection illustrated more-rapid acquisition of opportunistic infections by HIV-infected children born in the pre-highly active antiretroviral therapy era than by those born later. In the first 3 years of life, there was a faster decline in the percentage of CD4+ cells among children with opportunistic infections. The mortality rate was significantly higher among children with opportunistic infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduction in the incidence of opportunistic infections and prolongation of the time to the first opportunistic infection were noted during the post-highly active antiretroviral therapy era. Children who experienced opportunistic infections had higher mortality rates than did those who did not. Younger children (<3 years) who experienced opportunistic infections had faster declines in percentages of CD4+ T cells.

Treatment initiation with zidovudine-containing potent antiretroviral therapy impairs CD4 cell count recovery but not clinical efficacy

OBJECTIVE

Zidovudine-containing antiretroviral therapy has been associated with a lower rise in absolute CD4 cell counts in several randomized trials. We examined the predictive factors for this phenomenon and assessed its impact on clinical progression during treatment in a large patient cohort.

DESIGN

An analysis of data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

METHODS

All 2177 treatment-naive adults who began potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) between September 1995 and September 2004 were included. Exclusion criteria were previous ART and treatment duration of less than 3 months. Follow-up was censored in the case of a treatment switch or stop.

RESULTS

A total of 1312 patients initiated zidovudine-containing ART and 865 started ART without zidovudine. Except for slightly higher absolute CD4 cell counts in the zidovudine group, prognostic characteristics at baseline and viral suppression during treatment did not differ. During an observation time of 2343 and 1486 patient-years, the CD4 cell count increased by a median of 221 versus 286 cells/microl at 2 years and 290 versus 379 cells/microl at 4 years in the zidovudine versus no zidovudine group; however, the rise in the percentage of CD4 cells was similar in both groups. The zidovudine group had a significantly slower rise in total lymphocytes and haemoglobin. In multivariable Cox models, the hazard for new HIV-associated clinical events was not affected by zidovudine-containing ART.

CONCLUSION

Over 4 years, zidovudine led to a smaller increase in absolute, but not percentage, CD4 cell counts. The effect can be explained as a slower rise in total lymphocytes and has no impact on clinical efficacy.