Infective endocarditis in paediatric patients from Andalusia (Spain), 2008-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious condition associated with significant mortality. Information in Spain is limited and comes from case series from single centres. The aim was to describe the epidemiology, clinical features, microbiology and outcome of paediatric IE in Andalusia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Multi-centre descriptive observational retrospective study of patients <18 years old with a diagnosis of IE who were admitted to six Andalusian hospitals during 2008-2020. RESULTS: 44 episodes of IE (41 patients) with a median age of 103 months (IQR 37-150 months) were identified. Congenital heart disease (CHD) was the main predisposing factor, identified in 34 cases (77%). A total of 21 (48%) episodes of IE occurred in patients with prosthetic material. These had higher rate of CHD (p = 0.002) and increased end organ dysfunction (p = 0.04) compared to those with native valve. Fever was an almost universal symptom, associated in 23% of the episodes with heart failure. Staphylococcus aureus (25%) followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (18%) and Streptococcus viridans (14%) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms, and three (7%) patients with central venous catheters had a fungal infection. Thromboembolic events were observed in 30% of the episodes, surgical intervention was required in 48% of cases. Mortality rate was 9%. Prosthetic material and CRP > 140 mg/L were independent predictors of complicated IE. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize the high morbidity of paediatric IE. The information provided could be useful for the identification of epidemiological and clinical profiles of children with IE and complicated forms.

Prevalence of psychological symptoms and associated risk factors in a Spanish sample of HIV-positive youth compared to uninfected peers.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was twofold: a) to determine the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety and sleep disturbances in young patients with vertically-transmitted HIV infection compared to uninfected peers, and b) to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial and medication-related variables and other clinical risk and protective factors related to psychological symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in two groups with independent measures (36 youth with vertically transmitted HIV infection and 39 HIV-negative peers). We used 3 standardised assessment tools and a sociodemographic/psychosocial questionnaire (STAI, BDI, PSQI and adapted sociodemographic test). We performed univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: The univariate analysis did not find significant differences between groups either in psychosocial factors or in the clinical scores. The multivariable analysis found that the presence of psychological symptoms was strongly associated with sociodemographic factors and past events. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial factors and the social environment seemed to correlate more strongly to psychological symptoms than HIV status and to explain better the current psychological state of individuals.

New diagnosis of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in 8 Latin-American countries during 2018.

BACKGROUND: Important prevention efforts have led to a reduction in mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) globally. However, new cases of paediatric HIV infections still occur. Early diagnosis of new HIV infections is essential to start an appropriate antiretroviral treatment to avoid childhood morbidity and mortality related to infection. The aim of this study was to describe the new cases of MTCT in Latin-American referral hospitals. METHODS: A retrospective, multicentre and descriptive study of the new cases of MTCT diagnosed during 2018 in 13 referral hospitals from 8 Latin-American countries (Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama) belonging to PLANTAIDS (Paediatric Network for Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment of HIV in Children), was conducted. PLANTAIDS is included in CYTED (Ibero-American Programme of Science and Technology for Development). RESULTS: Eighty-one children (40.7% males) were included, median age at diagnosis of 2.33 years (IQR:0.7-4.7). Less than 3% of women knew their HIV diagnosis before pregnancy. More than 80% of them were diagnosed after delivery, 8.7% during pregnancy, and 2.9% at delivery. Only one patient underwent antiretroviral therapy (ART) prior to pregnancy. At diagnosis, 50.0% of the children presented with an advanced stage of disease (stage C following the current CDC classification for HIV infection), and 34.4% had less than 15% CD4+ cells/mm3. The time elapsed between delivery and the maternal diagnosis was correlated with the age of children at diagnosis, ρ = 0.760, p < 0.001. Younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.03), a smaller number of previous hospitalizations (p < 0.01), and better immunovirological status (p < 0.01) were found in children whose mothers knew their HIV status at delivery, compared to mothers who were not aware of it. CONCLUSIONS: Although MTCT in Latin America has declined in recent years, our series shows there are still cases that indicate some failures in prevention, being a critical point to improve an earlier diagnosis of pregnant women. Half of the children were diagnosed in an advanced stage of disease and the delay in maternal diagnosis entailed a worse clinical and immunological child' prognosis.

Effects of perinatal HIV-infection on the cortical thickness and subcortical gray matter volumes in young adulthood.

ABSTRACT: Brain atrophy has been observed in perinatally HIV-infected patients (PHIV) despite initiation on combined antiretroviral treatment (cART), but neuroimaging studies are limited. We aimed to evaluate cortical thickness (CT) and subcortical gray matter (GM) volumes of PHIV youths with stable immunovirological situation and with a normal daily performance.A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 25 PHIV patients on cART and 25 HIV-negative (HIV-) controls matched by age, sex, level of education, and socioeconomic status underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan. CAT12 toolbox was used to extract CT values from T1w images using parcellations from Desikan-Killiany atlas (DK40). To measure regional brain volumes, native segmented images were parceled in regions of interest according to the Neuromorphometrics Atlas. Neuropsychological assessment and psychopathological symptoms were documented.Fifty participants were included (60% females, median age 20 years [interquartile range, IQR 19-23], 64% Whites). No differences regarding neuropsychological tests or psychopathological symptoms were found between groups (all P > .05). All participants presented an average performance in the Fluid Intelligence (FI) test (PHIV mean: -0.12, HIV- mean: 0.24), When comparing CT, PHIV-infected patients showed thinner cortices compared with their peers in fusiform gyrus (P = .000, P = .009), lateral-orbitofrontal gyrus (P = .006, P = .0024), and right parsobitalis gyrus (P = .047). Regarding subcortical GM volumes, PHIV patients showed lower right amygdala (P = .014) and left putamen (P = .016) volumes when compared with HIV- controls. Within the PHIV group, higher CD4 count was associated with higher volumes in right putamen (B = 0.00000038, P = .045). Moreover, increased age at cART initiation and lower nadir CD4 count was associated with larger volumes in left accumbens (B = 0.0000046, P = .033; B = -0.00000008, P = .045, respectively).PHIV patients showed thinner cortices of areas in temporal, orbito-frontal and occipital lobes and lower volumes of subcortical GM volumes when compared with the HIV- control group, suggesting cortical and subcortical brain alterations in otherwise neuroasymptomatic patients. Nevertheless, larger and longitudinal studies are required to determine the impact of HIV on brain structure in PHIV patients and to further identify risk and protective factors that could be implicated.

A Systematic Review of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies in Perinatally HIV-Infected Individuals.

Over the past few years, neuroimaging studies have been performed in young adults with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) to study the impact of HIV infection on the central nervous system (CNS), but no recent review have been published. This review aims to identify brain areas where PHIV eems to have greater impact taking into account demographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics in PHIV infected patients. For this purpose, PubMed and Medline searches were carried out which included studies from 2010 to April 2020. We performed a systematic review and included 26 articles using structural (brain morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging) and functional magnetic resonance imaging methods involving 1182 PHIV-infected participants. Ample evidence has been provided of HIV effects on underlying brain structure. However, information recorded in the studies is commonly incomplete and results sometimes contradictory. In addition to future improvements and dissemination of tools for the developing brain MRI processing and analysis, the inclusion of data related to HIV infection itself (including clinical and immunovirological characteristics as well as detailed information about antiretroviral treatment such as age at ART initiation) may be of vital importance to the better understanding of the impact of the disease on CNS.

Distinct Laboratory and Clinical Features of Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Pediatric Visceral Leishmaniasis: A Retrospective Analysis of 127 Children in Andalusia, Spain (2004-2019).

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an endemic in Southern Europe. However, details regarding disease burden, clinical presentations, laboratory markers, management and outcome in children are scarce. METHODS: Medical records of children (<14 years) admitted with VL to 10 pediatric units in Andalusia (2004-2019) were retrospectively reviewed. VL diagnosis was based on clinical presentation, serology, microscopy and molecular methods. Diagnosis of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) was established using the hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-2004 criteria. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were identified. Median age was 14.5 months; the main clinical presentations were fever and splenomegaly (95.3% each). Cytopenias were the most common laboratory abnormalities. Diagnostics as well as treatment regimens varied over time and the participating centers. Liposomal amphotericin B was prescribed in 97.6%; relapses as well as adverse events were rarely observed (3.1% each). Thirty-seven patients, diagnosed with sHLH required longer hospital admission (P = 0.001), an increased number of platelet (P < 0.006) and red blood cell (P = 0.0001) transfusions and pediatric intensive care unit admission (P = 0.007). Monocytopenia (P = 0.011) and high C-reactive protein levels (P = 0.031), variables not included in the hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-2004 criteria, were associated with sHLH. One patient deceased in the context of the Leishmania infection. CONCLUSIONS: We report data on the largest pediatric VL cohort from Europe, commonly associated with sHLH. Raised C-reactive protein levels and monocytopenia appear to be associated with sHLH. The latter may help to identify these patients and to guide decisions regarding need of additional supportive clinical care and immunomodulatory therapies. The observed high rate of heterogeneity in terms of diagnosis and management warrants the establishment of appropriate guidelines.

Neurocognitive and quality of life study in perinatally HIV-infected young people and their peers. NeuroCoRISpeS study.

BACKGROUND: Assessing the role of HIV and non-HIV related factors is essential for a better understanding of the neurocognitive outcomes in perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV+) young people. The aim of our study was to assess cognition and quality of life (QoL) of a PHIV+ cohort of young people and to compare it with a control group. METHODS: Thirty PHIV+ and 30 HIV(-) healthy young adults matched by age, sex and socioeconomic status completed a protocol that included neurocognitive tests, a psychosocial semi-structured interview and a QoL questionnaire (PedsQL). Neurocognitive domain-specific and domain-general (NPZ-5) Z-scores were calculated. CDC AIDS-defining category C or not C (PHIV+/C, PHIV+/noC) was considered to evaluate differences within the PHIV+ group. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included; 67% were female; median age (IQR) 19 years (18-21). Regarding PHIV+ young people, 27% showed CDC C category (none encephalopathy), 93% were on ART and 77% had undetectable viral load. No differences regarding occupation were found, although the HIV(-) group repeated less grades (p=0.028) and had a higher education level (p=0.021). No differences were found between PHIV+/noC and HIV(-) participants. However, the PHIV+/C group showed poorer performance than PHIV+/noC (NPZ-5, p=0.037) and HIV(-) subjects (crystallised intelligence, p=0.025; intelligence quotient, p=0.016). Higher nadir CD4+ T-cell count was related to better Z-score in memory (p=0.007) and NPZ-5 (p=0.025). Earlier and longer exposure to ART resulted in better performance in memory (p=0.004) and executive functions (p=0.015), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found in the neurocognitive profile nor QoL between PHIV+/noC and HIV(-) adolescents; however, PHIV+/C participants obtained lower scores. The use of longer and earlier ART seems to have a beneficial effect.

[Prevalence of psychological symptoms and associated risk factors in a Spanish sample of HIV-positive youth compared to uninfected peers]. / Prevalencia y factores de riesgo de síntomas psicológicos en una muestra española de jóvenes con VIH en comparación con pares no infectados.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was twofold: (i)to determine the prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety and sleep disturbances in young patients with vertically-transmitted HIV infection compared to uninfected peers, and (ii)to identify sociodemographic, psychosocial and medication-related variables and other clinical risk and protective factors related to psychological symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in two groups with independent measures (36 youth with vertically transmitted HIV infection and 39 HIV-negative peers). We used three standardised assessment tools and a sociodemographic/psychosocial questionnaire (STAI, BDI, PSQI and adapted sociodemographic test). We performed univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: The univariate analysis did not find significant differences between groups either in psychosocial factors or in the clinical scores. The multivariable analysis found that the presence of psychological symptoms was strongly associated with sociodemographic factors and past events. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial factors and the social environment seemed to correlate more strongly to psychological symptoms than HIV status and to explain better the current psychological state of individuals.