COVID-19 reinfection after pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: There have been reports of COVID-19 reinfections, but the immunological characterization of these cases is partial. We report a case of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, where the first infection occurred in the course of late pregnancy. CASE PRESENTATION: On May 27, 2020, a 37-year-old woman gave birth at full term, 3 hours after full dilatation. She developed fever (38.3°C) after delivery. Mild biological anomalies compatible with COVID-19 were observed: lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated D-Dimers, CRP, and LDH. At 6-month follow-up, she reported having contracted COVID-19 with high fever, rhinorrhea, hand frostbites, cough, headache, dysgeusia and anosmia. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of COVID-19 reinfection with a first mild infection during late pregnancy and a more aggressive second infection 5 months later.

Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine: need of a reasoned and effective vaccine campaign.

OBJECTIVES: A strong COVID-19 vaccine campaign is needed to reach the herd immunity and reduce this pandemic infection. STUDY DESIGN: In the Foch Hospital, France, in February 2021, 451 healthcare workers were vaccinated by a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. METHODS: Adverse effects were reported to our pharmaco-vigilance circuit, by an online and anonymous questionnaire following the first weeks of the vaccinal campaign to healthcare workers. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-four (60.8%) of them reported multiple adverse effects. Main adverse effects reported were feverish state/chills (65.7%), fatigue/physical discomfort (62.4%), arthralgia/muscle pain (61.0%) and fever (44.5%). CONCLUSIONS: On March 2021 many European countries suspended AstraZeneca vaccine for one week due to safety uncertainty. Thus, confidence in its efficacy is undermined. However, the benefit/risk balance is clearly in favor of vaccination.

A High Frequency of HIV-Specific Circulating Follicular Helper T Cells Is Associated with Preserved Memory B Cell Responses in HIV Controllers.

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play an essential role in the affinity maturation of the antibody response by providing help to B cells. To determine whether this CD4+ T cell subset may contribute to the spontaneous control of HIV infection, we analyzed the phenotype and function of circulating Tfh (cTfh) in patients from the ANRS CO21 CODEX cohort who naturally controlled HIV-1 replication to undetectable levels and compared them to treated patients with similarly low viral loads. HIV-specific cTfh (Tet+), detected by Gag-major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) tetramer labeling in the CD45RA- CXCR5+ CD4+ T cell population, proved more frequent in the controller group (P = 0.002). The frequency of PD-1 expression in Tet+ cTfh was increased in both groups (median, >75%) compared to total cTfh (<30%), but the intensity of PD-1 expression per cell remained higher in the treated patient group (P = 0.02), pointing to the persistence of abnormal immune activation in treated patients. The function of cTfh, analyzed by the capacity to promote IgG secretion in cocultures with autologous memory B cells, did not show major differences between groups in terms of total IgG production but proved significantly more efficient in the controller group when measuring HIV-specific IgG production. The frequency of Tet+ cTfh correlated with HIV-specific IgG production (R = 0.71 for Gag-specific and R = 0.79 for Env-specific IgG, respectively). Taken together, our findings indicate that key cTfh-B cell interactions are preserved in controlled HIV infection, resulting in potent memory B cell responses that may play an underappreciated role in HIV control.IMPORTANCE The rare patients who spontaneously control HIV replication in the absence of therapy provide a unique model to identify determinants of an effective anti-HIV immune response. HIV controllers show signs of particularly efficient antiviral T cell responses, while their humoral response was until recently considered to play only a minor role in viral control. However, emerging evidence suggests that HIV controllers maintain a significant but "silent" antiviral memory B cell population that can be reactivated upon antigenic stimulation. We report that cTfh help likely contributes to the persistence of controller memory B cell responses, as the frequency of HIV-specific cTfh correlated with the induction of HIV-specific antibodies in functional assays. These findings suggest that T follicular help may contribute to HIV control and highlight the need for inducing such help in HIV vaccine strategies that aim at eliciting persistent B cell responses.

Efficacy, safety and patient-reported outcomes of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir in NS3/4A protease inhibitor-experienced individuals with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 and HIV coinfection with and without cirrhosis (ANRS HC31 SOFTRIH study).

OBJECTIVES: Studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of the fixed-dose combination ledipasvir (LDV)/sofosbuvir (SOF) in patients coinfected with HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have mainly included treatment-naïve patients without cirrhosis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this combination in treatment-experienced patients with and without cirrhosis. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, open-label, double-arm, nonrandomized study in patients coinfected with HIV-1 and HCV genotype 1 with and without cirrhosis, who had good viral suppression on their antiretroviral regimens. All patients were pretreated with a first-generation NS3/4A protease inhibitor (PI) plus pegylated interferon/ribavirin. Patients received a fixed-dose combination of LDV/SOF for 12 weeks, or for 24 weeks if cirrhosis was present. The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response (SVR) 12 weeks after the end of therapy. Secondary endpoints included safety, pharmacokinetics and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients enrolled, 39.7% had cirrhosis. Sixty-five patients [95.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 87.6-99.1%; P < 0.0001] achieved an SVR, with similar rates of SVR in those with and without cirrhosis. Tolerance was satisfactory, with mainly grade 1 or 2 adverse events. Among patient-reported outcomes, only fatigue significantly decreased at the end of treatment compared with baseline [odds ratio (OR): 0.36; 95% CI: 0.14-0.96; P = 0.04]. Mean tenofovir area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) at week 4 was high, with mean ± SD AUC variation between baseline and week 4 higher in cirrhotic than in noncirrhotic patients (3261.57 ± 1920.47 ng/mL vs. 1576.15 ± 911.97 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.03). Mild proteinuria (54.4%), hypophosphataemia (50.0%), blood bicarbonate decrease (29.4%) and hypokalaemia (13.2%) were reported. The serum creatinine level was not modified. CONCLUSIONS: LDV/SOF provided a high SVR rate in PI-experienced subjects coinfected with HCV genotype 1 and HIV-1, including patients with cirrhosis.

Increase in sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of outpatient HIV-positive men who have sex with men in the Parisian region.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a cohort of HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM), followed in a tertiary hospital of the Île-de-France region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a monocentric, retrospective, and prospective study. We included symptomatic HIV-infected MSM patients who consulted for their annual consultation. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty patients were seen between 2008-2011 and 215 between 2012-2015. We observed an increased incidence of STIs between the two periods (14 and 29.3%, respectively). These STIs includes: syphilis, hepatitis C, urethritis, and proctitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea. CONCLUSION: A better management of symptomatic and asymptomatic STIs is needed for HIV-infected MSM patients.

[Choice of initial regimen for antiretroviral-naïve HIV patients: Analysis of motivation]. / Analyse des motivations du choix des antirétroviraux (ARV) prescrits chez des patients infectés par le VIH (PVVIH) naïfs.

OBJECTIVE: Several therapeutic combination antiretroviral therapy regimen are available for initial treatment in naïve HIV infected patients. The choice of a particular regimen remains often subjective. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with the choice of molecules in initial ARV prescriptions. METHODS: From 01/01 to 30/10/2014, every initial cART prescription was analyzed regarding patients and physicians characteristics. Then, prescriptions were evaluated by an independent committee of ART prescribers. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty two consecutive initial prescriptions by 34 physicians of 11 medical centers were included: 71 M, migrants: 57 %, MSM: 21 %, CD4<200/mm3: 26 %, HIV RNA>100 000 cp/mL (33 %). cART regimen were: NRTI/PI (43 %), NRTI/NNRTI (29.5 %), NRTI/integrase inhibitor (23 %). 75 % of initial cART regimen were consistent with expert guidelines recommendations. The choice of initial cART was not influenced by the type of HIV contamination risk group, patient's geographic origin, CD4 levels. In contrast, working or not (P=0.007), pregnancy wish (P=0.07), pregnancy (P=0.001), HIV RNA levels (P=0.02) and HIV primary infection (P=0.049) influenced the initial choice. Neither physician's age, nor physician's experience influenced this choice. The prescription's non accordance to 2013 French guidelines was mainly related to integrase inhibitor utilisation (P= 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Overall, cART initial choice is mostly consistent with guidelines. Primary HIV infection, procreation features and high viral load are the main factors influencing this choice. New regimen with better tolerability is prescribed even if it is not yet included in the guidelines.

[Lack of bioavailability of generic lopinavir/ritonavir not prequalified by WHO marketed in Africa (Congo Brazzaville)]. / Absence de bio-équivalence d'un générique du lopinavir/ritonavir non préqualifié par l'OMS commercialisé en Afrique (Congo Brazzaville).

Although second-line generic antiretroviral drugs are of great value in developing countries there are concerns regarding their quality and safety. This study is a case report and pharmacological study in healthy volunteers. A French subject of sub-saharan origin who visited Republic of Congo received a post-exposure treatment with AZT+3TC and LPV/r (200/50 mg, Arga-L®, India) following unprotected sexual intercourse. Two days later, in France, tests showed that plasma concentrations of lopinavir and ritonavir were undetectable. The WHO prequalification list showed Arga-L® was not prequalified. A pharmacological study in healthy volunteers evaluated oral bioavailability: plasma concentrations of generic LPV/r Arga-L® and LPV/r Kaletra® (400/100 mg) were measured after one single dose at 7 days apart in four healthy volunteers. Concentrations of Arga-L® at 12 h after intake were considerably lower than those of Kaletra®, revealing very low oral bioavailability of generic lopinavir and ritonavir (<10%) compared to the brand-name drug. We found that Arga-L®, despite having adequate qualitative and quantitative drug contents, had very poor bio availability compared to Kaletra®. In order to avoid the selection and the spread of drug-resistant HIV strains, rigorous pharmacological monitoring of generic antiretroviral drugs that are not pre-qualified by WHO, but are marketed in Africa, must be a priority for health authorities.

[Pulmonary arterial hypertension related to HIV: is inflammation related to IL-6 the cornerstone?]. / Hypertension artérielle pulmonaire liée à l'infection VIH : de la pression artérielle pulmonaire à l'interleukine-6.

Vascular diseases have become the leading cause of mortality in the population treated for HIV infection. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) related to HIV (PAH-HIV), the fourth cause of PAH in France, has the same histological pattern as other PAH from the group 1 of Dana Point classification. But, conversely to idiopathic PAH in the general population, PAH-HIV is particular by its high frequency in HIV-infected population. This raises the question for the role of inflammation in the PAH-HIV pathophysiology. Its constant occurrence over the decades, despite introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (CAT), does not preclude the hypothesis of an involvement of inflammation in the genesis of PAH-HIV. Indeed, it is well known that normalization of CD4+ by the CAT does not mean no inflammation. Especially, it persists an increased and continuous production of IL-6, a main cytokine in the genesis of PAH lesions. This inflammation mainly involves the endothelin-1 pathway, which has an action on endothelium and macrophages, leading to high production of IL-6. Moreover, plasmatic level of IL-6 has a prognostic value in PAH-HIV, independently from conventional (functional or hemodynamic) parameters. The use of endothelin receptor antagonist permits major effect on IL-6 production and dramatic effect on PAH in so-called "bosentan responders".

Factors predictive of successful darunavir/ritonavir-based therapy in highly antiretroviral-experienced HIV-1-infected patients (the DARWEST study).

BACKGROUND: Darunavir (DRV) is the latest protease inhibitor (PI) to be approved for antiretroviral-naive and -experienced HIV-infected patients. OBJECTIVES: We examined virologic and immunologic outcomes of highly antiretroviral-experienced patients with triple-class drug resistance receiving DRV/r-based regimens, and attempted to identify factors predictive of virologic success. STUDY DESIGN: We studied patients beginning a ritonavir-boosted DRV (DRV/r 600/100mg twice daily)-containing regimen. Virologic success was defined as plasma viral load (pVL)<50copies/ml at week 36. RESULTS: We studied 62 patients with very severe immunodeficiency (CDC stage C in 69% of cases; median CD4 cell nadir 12/mm(3)). They had previously received a median of four PI and had extensive PI resistance, with a median of three major PI and two DRV resistance mutations. The baseline median pVL and CD4 cell count values were 4.6log(10) and 150/mm(3). At week 36, pVL had fallen by 2.6log(10) and the CD4 cell count had risen by 123cells/mm(3). The virologic success rate was 55% overall, and was improved by concomitant first use of enfuvirtide (67%), raltegravir (69%) or etravirine (75%). Virologic success was independently associated with fewer major PI mutations, previous tipranavir exposure, and concomitant first use of enfuvirtide or raltegravir. CONCLUSIONS: In these highly antiretroviral-experienced patients with triple-class drug resistance, virologic success of DRV-containing regimens was mainly associated with the use of new drug classes and/or fully active drugs. Interestingly, previous tipranavir failure did not undermine the efficacy of DRV, confirming the low level of cross-resistance and, probably, distinct resistance profiles between DRV and tipranavir.

Safety and efficacy of raltegravir in HIV-infected transplant patients cotreated with immunosuppressive drugs.

Solid organ transplantations (SOT) are performed successfully in selected HIV-infected patients. However, multiple and reciprocal drug-drug interactions are observed between antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) through CYP450 metabolization. Raltegravir (RAL), a novel HIV-1 integrase inhibitor, is not a substrate of CYP450 enzymes. We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 13 HIV-infected transplant patients treated by an RAL + two nucleosidic reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) regimen, in terms of tolerability, ARV efficacy (plasma viral load, CD4 cell count), drug interactions, RAL pharmacokinetics and transplant outcome. Thirteen patients with liver (n = 8) or kidney (n = 5) transplantation were included. RAL was initiated (400 mg BID) either at time of transplantation (n = 6), or after transplantation (n = 7). Median RAL trough concentration was 507 ng/mL (176-890), which is above the in vitro IC95 for wild type HIV-1 strains (15 ng/mL). Target trough levels of CNIs were promptly obtained with standard dosages of tacrolimus or cyclosporine. RAL tolerability was excellent. There was no episode of acute rejection. HIV infection remained controlled. After a median follow-up of 9 months (range: 6-14), all patients were alive with satisfactory graft function. The use of an RAL + two NRTI-based regimen is a good alternative in HIV-infected patients undergoing SOT.

Pulmonary manifestations of multicentric Castleman's disease in HIV infection: a clinical, biological and radiological study.

The aim of the present study was to report clinical, radiological and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) findings in patients with pulmonary manifestations of HIV-associated multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). This was a retrospective study of 12 patients with histologically proven MCD. Clinical manifestations were as follows: dyspnoea (nine out of 12 cases), cough (n = 10), bilateral crackles (n = 10), together with high fever, malaise, peripheral lymphadenopathy (n = 12), and hepatosplenomegaly (n = 10). Two patients developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. Chest radiographs and computed tomography scans showed reticular (n = 7) and/or nodular (n = 7) interstitial patterns, with mediastinal lymphadenopathy (n = 9), and bilateral pleural effusion (n = 3). Fibreoptic endoscopy was normal in all cases. BAL analysis showed hypercellularity (n = 6) and/or lymphocytosis (n = 6), and human herpesvirus-8 DNA was detected in two out of two cases. Specific stains and cultures for pathogens were negative. All patients received etoposide and/or vinblastine, and improved after 2-4 days. Relapses were frequent (50 attacks in 12 patients). Six patients developed a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and five died. In conclusion, the pulmonary manifestation of HIV-related multicentric Castleman's disease is an acute reticulo-nodular interstitial pneumonitis, associated with severe systemic symptoms and peripheral lymphadenopathy. In bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, cellularity is not specific and human herpesvirus-8 DNA is detected. The clinical course is specific due to a rapid onset and regression, frequent relapses and a high occurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

[HHV 8 positive Castleman's disease and auto-immune neutropenia in 2 HIV-infected patients]. / Maladie de Castleman HHV 8 positive et neutropénie auto-immune chez 2 patients infectés par le VIH.

INTRODUCTION: Castleman's disease (CD) is a polyclonal lymphoplasmacytic and vascular proliferation prominent in lymphoid tissues, associated to Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected patients. The presence of autoimmune stigmates is frequent. EXEGESIS: We report two cases of neutropenia secondary to IgG neutrophil autoantibodies, indeterminate specificity, occurring in two HIV-infected patients with CD HHV-8+, treated by vinblastine since several years. The neutropenia was associated to other biologic stigmates of autoimmunity and the evolution has been complicated by several infections. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and polyvalent immunoglobulin permitted a transient and low increase of neutrophila in one case. CONCLUSION: Auto-immune neutropenia in CD is rare and difficult to treat in our cases. This evolution is independent of relapse of CD. The immunoglobulin and G-CSF may be transitory effective.

[Castleman's disease in patients infected with HIV]. / Maladie de Castleman chez les patients infectés par le VIH.

PURPOSE: Castleman's disease is a polyclonal lymphoplasmacytic and vascular proliferation prominant in lymphoid tissues. It is associated with lymph node enlargement, hepatosplenomegaly and fever. This manifestations could be secondary to hyperproduction of interleukin 6. The prognosis is poor. The opportunistic infections which are characteristic of severe HIV infection worsen the prognosis. Prolonged monochemotherapy with vinblastine or etoposide can control Castleman's disease. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Recent advances in human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) knowledge and its predominance in the forms which are linked to the HIV seropositivity have partly explained the clinical manifestations of Castleman's disease. Indeed, HHV8 produce an homologous interleukin 6, the vIL-6, responsible for lymphoplasmacytic proliferation. The presence of other homologues of human cytokines produced by HHV8 could contribute to lymphoplasmacytosis and to endothelial proliferation. FUTURE AND PROSPECTS: Taking into account this viral origin, alpha interferon could be an alternative in forms which are less progressive. However, antiviral therapy against HHV8 or HIV and the immunitary restoration do not have any influence on the evolution of Castleman's disease, contrary to opportunistic infections.

Treatment intensification with abacavir in HIV-infected patients with at least 12 weeks previous lamivudine/zidovudine treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that lamivudine and zidovudine, given separately (lamivudine/zidovudine) or as a single combination tablet (Combivir), had equivalent efficacy. To evaluate the safety and antiretroviral activity of intensification with abacavir in patients treated with lamivudine/zidovudine for > or = 12 weeks. DESIGN: A 12-week, equivalence study of lamivudine/ zidovudine versus Combivir. Patients who completed this study could enter a 48-week, intensification study of Combivir plus abacavir. METHODS: In the equivalence study, treatment-naive patients were assessed for HIV-1 RNA, CD4 cell count and genotype. The same assessments plus phenotype were made in the intensification study. Serious adverse events were recorded in the equivalence study and all adverse events in the intensification study. RESULTS: Lamivudine/zidovudine (n=40) and Combivir (n=35) gave equivalent reductions in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels at week 12. An identical proportion of patients (74%) in each treatment group harboured virus with the M184V mutation after 12 weeks. Fifty-two patients entered the intensification study and 44 completed 48 weeks of treatment. At the time of intensification with abacavir, all 35 patients with evaluable isolates harboured HIV-1 containing M184V. Addition of abacavir to Combivir led to further decreases in plasma HIV-1 RNA and increases in CD4 cell counts compared with the start of intensification (P<0.001 at week 48). After 48 weeks of triple therapy, multi-nucleoside resistance mutations at codons 69 and 151 were not detected in any patients. All treatment regimens were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Lamivudine/zidovudine and Combivir have equivalent antiretroviral activity over 12 weeks. Adding abacavir to Combivir can be a safe and effective therapeutic option for patients, including those harbouring virus with the M184V mutation.

Long-term efficacy on Kaposi's sarcoma of highly active antiretroviral therapy in a cohort of HIV-positive patients. CISIH 92. Centre d'information et de soins de l'immunodéficience humaine.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). DESIGN: Prospective cohort of patients followed for 24 months. SETTING: Four referral hospitals of the West Paris metropolitan area. PATIENTS/INTERVENTION: Thirty-nine AIDS-KS patients, 42 +/- 9 years old, who began HAART (HIV-protease inhibitor and two nucleoside analogues) between March and December 1996, were enrolled. One was lost to follow-up at month 12. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: KS response, using criteria of the AIDS clinical trials group (ACTG), CD4 cell counts, and plasma HIV-RNA, assessed every 6 months. ACTG TIS staging of KS. RESULTS: Eighteen patients had T1 KS and 21 T0 KS. One patient died from KS at month 6. KS improved progressively, with complete and partial response rates of 46% and 28% at month 24, respectively. Only six patients were still receiving systemic KS therapy at month 24. Complete response was observed in 10 of the 19 patients without systemic KS therapy at inclusion. Patients with complete response at month 24 had higher CD4 cell counts than others (465 +/- 343 versus 185 +/- 167 x 10(6)/l; P < 0.01), but the proportion of patients with HIV-1 RNA < 500 copies/ml was not significantly different. An increase in CD4 cell counts from inclusion to month 12 of > 150 x 10(6)/l [odds ratio (OR), 13.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2-82] and T0 KS at inclusion: [OR, 7; 95% CI, 1.1-42] were predictive of complete response at month 24. CONCLUSIONS: HAART appears to have prolonged efficacy on AIDS-KS, even without specific KS therapy, and this effect appears to be linked to the restoration of immune function.

The VIRGO study: nevirapine, didanosine and stavudine combination therapy in antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected adults.

The virological and immunological efficacy of the triple regimen containing nevirapine (once or twice daily), didanosine (once daily) and stavudine, in antiretroviral-naive patients infected with HIV-1, was evaluated in an open-label, prospective, non-randomized, multi-centre, 52-week study. The first 60 patients (VIRGO I) received nevirapine as the standard dose, 200 mg twice daily; the subsequent 40 patients (VIRGO II) received nevirapine at a dose of 400 mg once daily. All patients received 400 mg of didanosine once daily and 40 mg of stavudine twice daily, adjusted for body weight. At baseline, the median CD4 cell count and plasma viral load (pVL) were 414 cells/mm3 and 4.59 log10 copies/ml in VIRGO I, and 412 cells/mm3 and 4.87 log10 copies/ml in VIRGO II. Using an intent-to-treat, 'non-completer equals failure', analysis, 78% (95% CI, 68-88%) of patients in VIRGO I and 68% (95% CI, 53-83%) of those in VIRGO II had a pVL <500 copies/ml at 24 weeks; the proportions achieving a pVL of <50 copies/ml were 62% (95% CI, 50-74%) and 50% (95% CI, 35-65%), respectively. The week 24 median CD4 cell count increase was 168 cells/mm3 (VIRGO I) and 139 cells/mm3 (VIRGO II). At week 52, 39/45 (87%) of VIRGO I patients had pVL <500 copies/ml and 30/45 (67%) <50 copies/ml. Of the 100 patients, 44 experienced grade 2 to 4 adverse events; 20 permanently discontinued study medication because of an adverse event. Combination therapy with the three reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors stavudine, once-daily didanosine and either once- or twice-daily nevirapine could be considered as an alternative option for first-line antiretroviral therapy.

Interpretation of high levels of HIV-1 RNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using amplicor HIV-1 monitor test.

A retrospective study of 19 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 14 HIV-positive subjects with subacute encephalopathy, neuropathy, or unexplained peripheral myelopathy was done comparatively with plasma specimens collected on the same day and tested in the same run as the corresponding CSF specimen. A single patient had a high HIV RNA level in CSF as compared to plasma (CSF/plasma ratio > 10), which seemed correlated with the clinical course. Further studies are needed to confirm that a high CSF/plasma HIV RNA ratio is associated with greater symptom severity.

Stavudine, didanosine and nevirapine in antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected patients.

In an ongoing, open-label, non-comparative study, the safety and efficacy of nevirapine/stavudine/didanosine were evaluated in 100 antiretroviral-naive adults with CD4 cell counts > or = 200 cells/mm3 and plasma HIV-1 RNA (pVL) > or = 5000 copies/ml. Sixty patients received nevirapine twice daily (VIRGO I) and 40 received nevirapine once daily (VIRGO II); all patients received didanosine once a day. After median follow-ups of 44 weeks in VIRGO I and 30 weeks in VIRGO II, the following virological results were observed (ongoing study): an intent-to-treat, non-completer equals failure analysis at week 24 showed the proportions of patients with pVL <500 copies/ml were 78% in VIRGO I (60% <50 copies/ml) and 75% in VIRGO II. An on-treatment analysis at week 52 showed 80% of patients with a pVL <500 copies/ml and 59% with <50 copies/ml in VIRGO I. The mean CD4 cell count increase was +171 cells/mm3 at week 24 and +218 cells/mm3 at week 52 in VIRGO I and +158 cells/mm3 at week 24 in VIRGO II. Cutaneous rash (grades 1 to 3) occurred in 24% of patients leading to nevirapine discontinuation in eight of 24 patients. Five other patients discontinued therapy during the first 24 weeks because of hepatic cytolysis, peripheral neuropathy or biological pancreatitis. The nevirapine/stavudine/didanosine combination is a convenient and safe regimen, with rapid and potent immunological and antiviral effects sustained over 12 months.

AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma patients with visceral manifestations. Response to human chorionic gonadotropin preparations.

OBJECTIVE: In vitro cell culture studies and a murine model for human Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) have shown that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-associated factor (HAF) isolated from commercial hCG preparations has antiproliferative and cell killing effects on neoplastic KS cells, without toxic effects on normal endothelial cells and lymphocytes. These findings prompted preliminary study of hCG preparations for patients with early-stage KS with skin lesions only and no known visceral involvement. Complete or partial regression of the skin lesions occurred after intralesional injections of hCG (hCG-Pregnyl, hCG-APL). The current study sought to extend these early observations to evaluation of the safety of hCG in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) KS patients with aggressive disease and visceral involvement. These patients present in a more advanced stage of the disease that is coupled with serious immunodeficiency. They commonly respond poorly to conventional chemotherapy and have a reduced median life expectancy of only 4 to 9 months. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: After approval by the local institutional review boards, 13 patients with advanced AIDS-KS gave informed consent and were treated with hCG preparations. These hCG preparations are known to have antiproliferative activity in laboratory tests. Patients were monitored for tumor size by clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, radiography, respiratory functions, and endoscopic examination. Histologic examinations of biopsied tissues were used for studies of apoptosis using in situ hybridization techniques. The patients were also monitored for CD4+ T-cell numbers and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plasma viral load according to common clinical practice. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with advanced AIDS-KS and visceral KS were treated with hCG. Five of 13 (38%) patients had dramatic responses to therapy, and overall tolerance to the drug was excellent for all patients. Some hCG preparations also showed beneficial effects against HIV-associated markers. An accompanying decrease in viral load (plasma HIV-1 RNA) was observed in one patient, a dramatic increase in CD4+ cells occurred in another, and significant weight gain was seen in seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: These clinical observations suggest that patients with aggressive visceral forms of KS, usually indicative of an extremely poor prognosis and poor response to combined chemotherapy, can benefit from this new therapeutic approach. In some patients, these preparations also induce several other beneficial effects, such as weight gain, reduction in HIV-1 RNA load, or increase in the CD4+ T-cell count. Additional controlled clinical trials comparing this new therapeutic option with standard cytotoxic chemotherapy are needed. These trials should be extended to patients with KS not related to HIV-1 infection. Because we showed elsewhere that pure hCG had no effect on KS, identification and subsequent clinical use of the active molecules in hCG preparations is urgently needed.