The unwelcome trio: HIV plus cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer in People Living With HIV: From Epidemiology to Clinical Management

Skin cancers represent the most common human tumors with a worldwide increasing incidence. They can be divided into melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). NMSCs include mainly squamous cell (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) with the latest representing the 80% of the diagnosed NMSCs. The pathogenesis of NMSCs is clearly multifactorial. A growing body of literature underlies a crucial correlation between skin cancer, chronic inflammation and immunodeficiency. Intensity and duration of immunodeficiency plays an important role. In immunocompromised patients the incidence of more malignant forms or the development of multiple tumors seems to be higher than among immunocompetent patients. With regards to people living with HIV (PLWH), since the advent of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), the incidence of non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs), such as NMSCs, have been increasing and now these neoplasms represent a leading cause of illness in this particular population. PLWH with NMSCs tend to be younger, to have a higher risk of local recurrence and to have an overall poorer outcome. NMSCs show an indolent clinical course if diagnosed and treated in an early stage. BCC rarely metastasizes, while SCC presents a 4% annual incidence of metastasis. Nevertheless, metastatic forms lead to poor patient outcome. NMSCs are often treated with full thickness treatments (surgical excision, Mohs micro-graphic surgery and radiotherapy) or superficial ablative techniques (such as cryotherapy, electrodesiccation and curettage). Advances in genetic landscape understanding of NMSCs have favored the establishment of novel therapeutic strategies. Concerning the therapeutic evaluation of PLWH, it’s mandatory to evaluate the risk of interactions between cART and other treatments, particularly antiblastic chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Development of further treatment options for NMSCs in PLWH seems needed. We reviewed the literature after searching for clinical trials, case series, clinical cases and available databases in Embase and Pubmed. We review the incidence of NMSCs among PLWH, focusing our attention on any differences in clinicopathological features of BCC and SCC between PLWH and HIV negative persons, as well as on any differences in efficacy and safety of treatments and response to immunomodulators and finally on any differences in rates of metastatic disease and outcomes.

Malignant melanoma in HIV: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management

People affected by immunodeficiency, and especially those infected by HIV, are burdened by a higher risk of developing malignancies. It has been estimated that the incidence of melanoma in HIV-infected people is 2.6-fold higher than in uninfected ones. In this group of patients, melanoma shows a more aggressive phenotype and poorer survival rates compared to HIV-negative people. Standard guidelines of diagnosis and care do not exist yet. Studies suggest high index of suspicion and a low threshold for biopsy in HIV-positive patients regardless of their CD4⁺ count and the use of standard surgical margins for re-excision procedures. In case of diagnosis of melanoma in HIV-positive patients, a thorough search for metastatic disease is recommended because of the more aggressive course of this cancer in HIV-positive patients. Moreover, to rapidly find out any recurrence or metastatic disease after treatment, these patients need a close follow-up, every 3 months, for the first 2 years and at least twice yearly thereafter. Although surgery remains the main therapeutic option, application of immune checkpoint-based immunotherapy is being studied and seems to be promising. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge and future options for melanoma diagnosis and treatment in people living with HIV.

Amazonian Phlebovirus (Bunyaviridae) potentiates the infection of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis: Role of the PKR/IFN1/IL-10 axis

BACKGROUND

Leishmania parasites are transmitted to vertebrate hosts by phlebotomine sandflies and, in humans, may cause tegumentary or visceral leishmaniasis. The role of PKR (dsRNA activated kinase) and Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) activation in the control of Leishmania infection highlights the importance of the engagement of RNA sensors, which are usually involved in the antiviral cell response, in the fate of parasitism by Leishmania. We tested the hypothesis that Phlebovirus, a subgroup of the Bunyaviridae, transmitted by sandflies, would interfere with Leishmania infection.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We tested two Phlebovirus isolates, Icoaraci and Pacui, from the rodents Nectomys sp. and Oryzomys sp., respectively, both natural sylvatic reservoir of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis from the Amazon region. Phlebovirus coinfection with L. (L.) amazonensis in murine macrophages led to increased intracellular growth of L. (L.) amazonensis. Further studies with Icoaraci coinfection revealed the requirement of the PKR/IFN1 axis on the exacerbation of the parasite infection. L. (L.) amazonensis and Phlebovirus coinfection potentiated PKR activation and synergistically induced the expression of IFNβ and IL-10. Importantly, in vivo coinfection of C57BL/6 mice corroborated the in vitro data. The exacerbation effect of RNA virus on parasite infection may be specific because coinfection with dengue virus (DENV2) exerted the opposite effect on parasite load.

CONCLUSIONS

Altogether, our data suggest that coinfections with specific RNA viruses shared by vectors or reservoirs of Leishmania may enhance and sustain the activation of host cellular RNA sensors, resulting in aggravation of the parasite infection. The present work highlights new perspectives for the investigation of antiviral pathways as important modulators of protozoan infections.

HIV-associated psoriasis: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management

People living with HIV (PLWH) are affected by a higher incidence skin disorders, which are often associated with high morbidity and mortality. In particular, psoriasis affects PLWH severely and for a longer time than the general population. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by a progressive decrease in CD4⁺ T-cell count, and it could seem paradoxical that psoriasis exacerbations are more frequent in this subset of patients than the general population, even though it is commonly observed at any stage of infection. For a long time, there have been limited therapeutic choices for PLWH affected by psoriasis. The introduction of the combined antiretroviral therapy dramatically changed the natural course of both HIV and psoriasis in PLWH, leading to an improvement of quality and duration of life. However, the clinical severity of psoriasis in PLWH often requires the use of immunosuppressant drugs. Knowledge about their safety and efficacy are limited to case-reports, small case-series and studies, therefore their use has not yet entered the routine. Further studies are needed to determine if immunosuppressive drugs can be safely and effectively used in PLWH affected by psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders.

Unusual Signs and Symptoms in HIV-Positive Patients Coinfected with Leishmania spp: The Importance of Neglected Tropical Disease in Differential Diagnosis

BACKGROUND:

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease affecting both animals and humans, acquired with the bite of sand flies or, in Injection Drug Users (IDUs), with contaminated needles, still hypoendemic in Sicily and the Mediterranean basin. Even though it is responsible for 20,000 to 40,000 deaths per year, this parasitic infection is still considered a neglected tropical disease. People Living with HIV (PLWH) are considered at high-risk of developing Leishmaniasis and, despite the introduction of Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART), mortality rate and relapses prevalence are still high in coinfected people.

CASE REPORT:

We present a case of HIV-Leishmania coinfection, posing the attention on the atypical signs and symptoms and the importance of thinking about other causes than the HIV infection progression when the patient presents with a worsening of his immune status during HAART.

CONCLUSION:

This parasitic disease has a high mortality rate, so it is mandatory to think about it in all the patients having a low CD4+ T-cell count and an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio under HAART.

A Misleading Anamnesis: Learning To Suspect

Leishmaniasis represents a complex, globally widespread opportunistic infection ranging from the visceral form, also called kala-azar, to the mucocutaneous and cutaneous disease. It is endemic in the Mediterranian Basin, Leishmania infantum being demonstrated as the main causative agent of autochthonous cases in Sicily, Italy. The long-term use of systemic antipsoriatic agents, including biotechnological drugs, may cause a higher susceptibility to opportunistic infections, so physicians maintain a high level of suspicion with treated patients. However, some skin tumours, because of the rare occurrence and/or the atypical clinical features, may mimic another kind of disease thus leading to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. An exemplary case is reported herein.

Hoigne Syndrome Caused by Intralesional Meglumine Antimoniate

Hoigne syndrome (HS) is the term coined to describe an acute, non-allergic, psychiatrically based reaction occurring with a wide list of medications, mainly antibiotics. Since its first description by Hoigne and Schoch in 1959, few cases have been reported in medical literature and, although antimicrobials are commonly used, very rarely in dermatology. The authors describe the first case occurred after intralesional administration of meglumine antimoniate and briefly discuss the pathogenetic hypotheses on this atypical adverse drug reaction.

Trombiculiasis: not only a matter of animals!

Trombiculiasis represents a striking emerging infestation in humans. In fact, modified lifestyles and easy and quick traveling around the globe, together with the altered ecology and habits of the parasite Neotrombicula autumnalis, make this original epizoonosis an extraordinary example of synanthropic dermatosis. We present an additional clinical image of this unusual parasite transmission from animals to humans occurring in a trekker in Calabria, Italy.

[Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum associated with HIV]

BACKGROUND

In Senegal, reported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis are often due to Leishmania major. Immunosuppression related to HIV infection contributes to the emergence of leishmaniasis in humans and to cutaneous localization of viscerotropic species. We report the first observed case in Senegal of opportunistic cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum associated with HIV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A 5-year-old boy presented crusted ulcerative lesions of the scalp and left forearm, together with axillary and cervical lymphadenopathy present for two months. Direct parasitological examination of the scalp and arm lesions, coupled with liquid aspiration of lymph nodes and bone marrow, enabled identification of amastigote forms of Leishmania. Polymerase chain reaction performed on skin, lymph node and bone marrow biopsy samples allowed identification of L. infantum. The child was positive for HIV1. Treatment of HIV infection and leishmaniasis resulted in clinical improvement.

DISCUSSION

Co-infection with cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. infantum and HIV is a complex combination in terms of the related therapeutic issues. The clinical and laboratory outcomes depend on restoration of immunity and on the efficacy, safety and availability of anti-leishmaniasis drugs.

Unusual presentation of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in HIV-infected patient

Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan parasite of genus leishmania. Visceral leishmaniasis, diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis, and atypical forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis are common in HIV-infected patients. Our patient presented with an obstructive mass in nasal cavity and was diagnosed as a case of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Spontaneous healing of lesions in HIV-infected patients is rare rather they are unresponsive to treatment and have frequent relapses, especially in patients with low CD4 count. However, in our patient, the lesion improved significantly after 2 months of highly active antiretroviral therapy and co-trimoxazole prophylaxis.