Prolonged Mpox Disease in People With Advanced HIV: Characterization of Mpox Skin Lesions

We report 3 complicated and prolonged cases of mpox in people with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at mpox diagnosis. Multiple medical countermeasures were used, including prolonged tecovirimat treatment and immune optimization with ART initiation. Immunofluorescence of skin biopsies demonstrated a dense immune infiltrate of predominantly myeloid and CD8+ T cells, with a strong type I interferon local response. RNAscope detected abundant replication of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in epithelial cells and dendritic cells. These data suggest that prolonged mpox in people with advanced HIV may be due to ongoing MPXV replication, warranting aggressive medical countermeasures and immune optimization.

Development and Pilot of an Mpox Severity Scoring System

Clinical severity scores facilitate comparisons to understand risk factors for severe illness. For the 2022 multinational monkeypox clade IIb virus outbreak, we developed a 7-item Mpox Severity Scoring System (MPOX-SSS) with initial variables refined by data availability and parameter correlation. Application of MPOX-SSS to the first 200 patients diagnosed with mpox revealed higher scores in those treated with tecovirimat, presenting >3 days after symptom onset, and with CD4 counts <200 cells/mm3. For individuals evaluated repeatedly, serial scores were concordant with clinical observations. The pilot MPOX-SSS demonstrated good discrimination, distinguished change over time, and identified higher scores in expected groups.

Update on Mpox: What the Primary Care Clinician Should Know

Mpox is a viral infection, which primarily caused sporadic outbreaks in West and Central Africa until causing a global epidemic in 2022. The disease has disproportionately affected people with human immunodeficiency virus and men who have sex with men. Transmission is through close physical contact, including sexual contact. Infection presents with a characteristic rash, with frequent anogenital involvement-polymerase chain reaction of skin lesions is diagnostic. Vaccination is available for primary prevention and postexposure prophylaxis. Treatment consists of supportive care, with antiviral medications available via clinical trials and/or for patients with severe disease.

Lemierre Syndrome Complicated by Emphysematous Osteomyelitis

Lemierre syndrome is characterized by severe pharyngitis, internal jugular vein thrombosis, and septic emboli. We present a case of emphysematous osteomyelitis secondary to Lemierre syndrome in a 27-year-old previously healthy man. Despite the high mortality associated with these conditions, full symptom resolution can be achieved with early diagnosis and aggressive management.

1406. Steroid-Sparing Agents to Control Inflammation in Complicated Neurocysticercosis: Three Cases

Background

Clinical manifestations of neurocysticercosis (NCC) are primarily due to the inflammatory response against degenerating cysts of the Taenia solium tapeworm. Inflammation can occur when cysts lose their ability to evade the host immune response during their natural life cycle or result from antihelminthic therapy. A subset can develop chronic perilesional edema requiring immunosuppressive therapy. Although guidelines recommend methotrexate (MTX) as an alternative to long-term steroids, limited information is available regarding when to start a steroid-sparing agent (SSA) and alternative SSAs in case of MTX failure or intolerance.

Methods

Retrospective chart review.

Results

Three patients with complicated NCC followed at a single tertiary care center are described in this study: Patient 1 with subarachnoid NCC (age 64, female), patient 2 with subarachnoid and intraventricular NCC (age 48, male) and patient 3 with parenchymal NCC (age 43, male). Patients 1–3 were followed clinically and radiographically for 8, 1.5 and 3 years, respectively. Patient 1 was treated with antihelminthic therapy and steroids for 24 months. She was transitioned to MTX for 1 month, but developed ulcerative stomatitis, leukopenia and transaminitis. She completed a treatment course of steroids, complicated by osteoporosis. Patient 2 was treated with 12 months of antihelminthic therapy and steroids with resolution of a previously positive cysticercal antigen in spinal fluid. Imaging revealed persistent inflammation in spite of adequate antihelminthic therapy. He was started on MTX and has remained on this medication for 5 months. Patient 3 was treated with two courses of antihelminthic therapy. He developed perilesional edema despite treatment with steroids and MTX uptitrated to 20 mg weekly. Adalimumab was added to his regimen and he had a rapid radiographic resolution of edema and clinical improvement in seizures. His seizures returned during an interruption in his adalimumab treatment and again resolved with re-initiation of this medication.

Conclusion

SSAs are beneficial in the long-term treatment of patients with subarachnoid NCC or chronic perilesional edema. The formulation of guidelines that include multiple options for SSAs will be essential in guiding management of complicated NCC.

Disclosures

All authors: No reported disclosures.

Change in Population Characteristics and Teen Birth Rates in 77 Community Areas: Chicago, Illinois, 1999-2009

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed community area differences in teen births in Chicago, Illinois, from 1999 to 2009. We analyzed the association between changes in teen birth rates and concurrent measures of community area socioeconomic and demographic change.

METHODS

Mean annual changes in teen birth rates in 77 Chicago community areas were correlated with concurrent census-based population changes during the decade. Census measures included changes in race/ethnicity, adult high school dropouts, poverty or higher-income households, crowded housing, unemployment, English proficiency, foreign-born residents, or residents who moved in the last five years. We included non-collinear census measures with a p<0.1 bivariate association with change in teen births in a stepwise multiple linear regression model.

RESULTS

Teen birth rates in Chicago fell faster than the overall birth rates, from 85 births per 1,000 teens in 1999 to 57 births per 1,000 teens in 2009. There were strong positive associations between increases in the percentage of residents who were black and Hispanic, poor, without a high school diploma, and living in crowded housing, and a negative association with an increase in higher-income households. Population changes in poverty, Hispanic population, and high school dropouts were the only significant measures in the final model, explaining almost half of the variance in teen birth rate changes.

CONCLUSION

The study provides a model of census-based measures that can be used to evaluate predicted vs. observed rates of change in teen births across communities, offering the potential to more appropriately prioritize public health resources for preventing unintended teen pregnancy.

Is p53 an independent prognostic factor in patients with laryngeal carcinoma?

BACKGROUND

Carcinoma of the true vocal cord represents the earliest clinically recognizable invasive malignancy in the head and neck region and provides a unique model for studying possible prognostic genetic markers. The aim of this study was to determine whether p53 overexpression correlated with tumor recurrence in a homogenous population of patients with early stage glottic carcinoma treated with radiotherapy alone.

METHODS

One hundred and fourteen patients with T1N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis were treated with curative radiotherapy between 1976 and 1990. With a median follow-up of 6 years, actuarial local control was 80% with 23 local recurrences. Laryngeal biopsy specimens obtained prior to radiation therapy were analyzed retrospectively in 22 patients. Forty-five patients with local control were used as a control group. p53 overexpression indicating a mutated p53 gene was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using the mouse monoclonal antibody D0-7.

RESULTS

Approximately 82% of carcinomas that recurred locally expressed p53 compared with only 29% of those with local control (P < 0.001). No significant relation was noted between p53 expression and histologic grade. Intensity of staining did not predict tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors believe that this case-controlled study demonstrated the role of p53 as an independent prognostic factor in patients with early stage glottic carcinoma.