Direct and indirect cardiovascular and cardiometabolic sequelae of the combined anti-retroviral therapy on people living with HIV

With reports of its emergence as far back as the early 1900s, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become one of the deadliest and most difficult viruses to treat in the era of modern medicine. Although not always effective, HIV treatment has evolved and improved substantially over the past few decades. Despite the major advancements in the efficacy of HIV therapy, there are mounting concerns about the physiological, cardiovascular, and neurological sequelae of current treatments. The objective of this review is to (Blattner et al., Cancer Res., 1985, 45(9 Suppl), 4598s-601s) highlight the different forms of antiretroviral therapy, how they work, and any effects that they may have on the cardiovascular health of patients living with HIV, and to (Mann et al., J Infect Dis, 1992, 165(2), 245-50) explore the new, more common therapeutic combinations currently available and their effects on cardiovascular and neurological health. We executed a computer-based literature search using databases such as PubMed to look for relevant, original articles that were published after 1998 to current year. Articles that had relevance, in any capacity, to the field of HIV therapy and its intersection with cardiovascular and neurological health were included. Amongst currently used classes of HIV therapies, protease inhibitors (PIs) and combined anti-retroviral therapy (cART) were found to have an overall negative effect on the cardiovascular system related to increased cardiac apoptosis, reduced repair mechanisms, block hyperplasia/hypertrophy, decreased ATP production in the heart tissue, increased total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and gross endothelial dysfunction. The review of Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTI), Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTI), and Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI) revealed mixed results, in which both positive and negative effects on cardiovascular health were observed. In parallel, studies suggest that autonomic dysfunction caused by these drugs is a frequent and significant occurrence that needs to be closely monitored in all HIV + patients. While still a relatively nascent field, more research on the cardiovascular and neurological implications of HIV therapy is crucial to accurately evaluate patient risk.

Anti-Retroviral Protease Inhibitors Regulate Human Papillomavirus 16 Infection of Primary Oral and Cervical Epithelium

Simple Summary

In 2016, globally, 36.7 million people were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), of which 53% had access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) (UNAIDS 2017 Global HIV Statistics). The risk of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal, cervical and anal cancers are higher among patients infected with HIV in the era of ART. Generally, HPV infections are self-limiting, however, persistent HPV infection is a major risk to carcinogenic progression. Long intervals between initial infection and cancer development imply cofactors are involved. Co-factors that increase infectivity, viral load, and persistence increase risk of cancer. We propose that the ART Protease Inhibitors (PI) class of drugs are novel co-factors that regulate HPV infection in HIV-infected patients. We developed a model system of organotypic epithelium to study impact of PI treatment on HPV16 infection. Our model could be used to study mechanisms of HPV infection in context of ART, and for developing drugs that minimize HPV infections.

Abstract

Epidemiology studies suggest that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) may be at increased risk of acquiring opportunistic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections and developing oral and cervical cancers. Effective HAART usage has improved survival but increased the risk for HPV-associated cancers. In this manuscript, we report that Protease Inhibitors (PI) treatment of three-dimensional tissues derived from primary human gingiva and cervical epithelial cells compromised cell-cell junctions within stratified epithelium and enhanced paracellular permeability of HPV16 to the basal layer for infection, culminating in de novo biosynthesis of progeny HPV16 as determined using 5-Bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling of newly synthesized genomes. We propose that HAART/PI represent a novel class of co-factors that modulate HPV infection of the target epithelium. Our in vitro tissue culture model is an important tool to study the mechanistic role of anti-retroviral drugs in promoting HPV infections in HAART-naïve primary epithelium. Changes in subsequent viral load could promote new infections, create HPV reservoirs that increase virus persistence, and increase the risk of oral and cervical cancer development in HIV-positive patients undergoing long-term HAART treatment.

An unusual case of paradoxical enlargement of lymph nodes during treatment of tuberculous lymphadenitis in immunocompetent patient and literature review

PATIENT

Female, 21.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Tuberculous lyphadenitis.

SYMPTOMS

Cough dry • fever • subcutaneous mass • weight loss.

MEDICATION

-

CLINICAL PROCEDURE

-

SPECIALTY

Pulmonology.

OBJECTIVE

Unusual clinical course.

BACKGROUND

Enlargement of lymph nodes during treatment of Tuberculous lymphadenitis is well recognized phenomenon in HIV infected patient with ample literature to help guide management. On the contrary, it poses a clinical challenge to distinguish between paradoxical reaction and treatment failure in HIV-seronegative patients and require high index of suspicion.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of 21 year old female of Bangladeshi origin with tuberculous lymphadenitis diagnosed on the basis of strong clinical history and radiologic findings. Patient's clinical symptoms and lymphadenopathy initially improved but worsened after three months of RIPE therapy. This prompted re imaging and excision biopsy of enlarging lymph node to exclude other masqueraders. Patient was continued on same antituberculous treatment. Oral prednisone was added with subsequent clinical improvement and decrease in the size of lymphadenopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Paradoxical reaction during anti tuberculous treatment must be considered after careful exclusion of medication non adherence, development of resistance and other similar conditions.