Treatment outcomes of patients with classic and AIDS-related Kaposi Sarcoma: a single-center real-world experience.

The recommended first-line chemotherapy agents for managing Kaposi sarcoma (KS) in high-income countries are expensive and often unavailable in developing nations such as Peru. Limited data exist on whether management practices in these countries affect patient outcomes. We assessed the real-world treatment approaches and outcomes of patients with KS in Peru. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related KS (AIDS-related KS; n = 95) and classic KS (CKS; n = 81) diagnosed at a tertiary center between 2000 and 2014 in Lima, Peru. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate overall survival (OS) rates. The median follow-up was 64 months for AIDS-related KS and 88 months for CKS. The median age of patients with AIDS-related KS was 35 years (range 20-63 years) and 70 years (range 33-91 years) for those with CKS. Most individuals had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≥ 2 (AIDS-related KS 75%; CKS 85%). Seventy-six percent and 40% of individuals with AIDS-related KS and CKS, respectively, received systemic chemotherapy. The most common first-line drug was paclitaxel, with relatively optimal overall response rates (ORRs) for AIDS-related KS (n = 64/72, 89%; ORR 61%) and CKS (n = 24/32, 75%; ORR 50%). The 5-year OS rates were 71% in the AIDS-related KS cohort and 81% in the CKS cohort. The findings from this real-world study may inform clinical practices and highlight the need for increased access to effective treatments and clinical trials for patients with KS in Peru and other developing countries.

Noninfectious and Infectious Complications and Their Related Characteristics in Heart Transplant Recipients at a National Institute.

OBJECTIVES: Complications, which affect the morbidity and mortality of patients after heart transplant, can be divided into infectious and noninfections com-plications. Here, we analyzed both infectious and noninfectious complications and their relation to clinical, laboratory, and surgical characteristics in a Latin American heart transplant population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were obtained from records of 35 heart transplant patients in the period from 2010 to 2015. Noninfectious and infectious complications were divided into 3 time intervals: within the first month, from month 2 to 6, and after month 6. Relations between complications and clinical, laboratory and surgical variables in different interval times were analyzed. RESULTS: In our patient group, 70 infectious and 133 noninfectious complications were reported after heart transplant. Infectious complications occurred more often between months 2 and 6 after heart transplant, whereas noninfectious complications occurred more often during the first month. Bacteria were the most common microorganism, and acute graft rejection was the most common noninfectious complication. Moreover, infectious complications were statistically related to 5 factors at month 1 (intraoperative bleeding, normal postsurgery leukocyte level, mild malnutrition, severe malnutrition, and graft rejection), to 3 factors between months 2 and 6 (diabetes mellitus, stage 2 chronic kidney disease, and cryoprecipitate trans-fusions), and to 2 factors after month 6 (prothrombin time and psychologic diagnosis). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that noninfectious complications should be anticipated first in patients after heart transplant. In addition, there are characteristics associated with infectious complications that can be seen during a specific time period.

High Survival and Mortality Characteristics in Heart Transplant Patients at a National Institute.

OBJECTIVES: The identification of variables related to the survival of heart transplant patients is vital for a good medical practice. Few studies have examined this issue in a Latin American population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze, retrospectively, the survival and mortality characteristics of patients after heart transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information on patients was obtained through review of medical records; we collected information on all patients who underwent this procedure from 2010 to 2015. Sociodemographic, clinical, and surgical characteristics associated with posttransplant mortality were analyzed. Survival over 5 years was determined with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The overall survival rate of the 35 patients who underwent heart transplant was 85%. Those with low total cholesterol values (< 160 mg/dL) had a lower survival at 5 years than patients with higher values (74% vs 100%; P = .044). The overall mortality was 14.3%, and the main cause of death was acutegraft rejection (40%). Lower total cholesterol level (< 160 mg/dL; P = .036), presence of chronic kidney disease stage 1 (P = .049), intraoperative bleeding (> 600 mL; P = .013), and number of sepsis incidents (P = .03) were more frequent in patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: The survival in our institute at 5 years is higher than shown in the reported literature, and the mortality is lower. In addition, a low total cholesterol value negatively affects survival of heart transplant patients at 5 years.

[Neonate with Ventriculitis caused by Empedobacter Brevis: Report of a case in Peru]. / Neonato con Ventriculitis causada por Empedobacter Brevis: Reporte de un caso en Perú.

Infections caused by rare micro-organisms are the subject of research, as researchers are encouraged to find the necessary health measures to prevent and treat the disease, as well as the search for new insights into human-microbial interactions. This report describes the case of a newborn boy diagnosed with hydrocephalus and myelomeningocele who developed ventriculitis and sepsis from resistant Empedobacter brevis. This case highlights the unexpected identification of this bacterium in the cerebrospinal fluid and its multi-resistant pattern, which was crucial for proper therapeutic management. This bacterium shows a mixture of different etiologies in the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Las infecciones causadas por microorganismos poco comunes son objeto de investigación, ya que animar a los investigadores a encontrar las medidas sanitarias necesarias para prevenir y tratar la enfermedad, así como la búsqueda de nuevas luces sobre las interacciones humano-microbios. En este informe se describe el caso de un recién nacido varón diagnosticado de hidrocefalia y mielomeningocele, que desarrolló ventriculitis y sepsis por Empedobacter brevis resistente. Este caso pone de manifiesto la inesperada identificación de esta bacteria en el líquido cefalorraquídeo y su patrón multirresistente, que fue crucial para dar un manejo terapéutico adecuado. Esta bacteria evidencia una mezcla de diferentes etiologías en el análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo.

[Resistance to ganciclovir in cytomegalovirus infection after heart transplant: case report]. / Reporte de caso de resistencia al ganciclovir en enfermedad por citomegalovirus postrasplante cardiaco.

Cytomegalovirus infection after a heart transplant is a recurrent medical condition. Its frequency increases when the donors are serum-positive, and the recipients are serum-negative to this virus. In the pediatric population, the infection only develops in a small percentage and the patients rarely present resistance to conventional treatment with ganciclovir and valganciclovir. We presented the first report of a pediatric case of the cytomegalovirus infection resistant to ganciclovir and valganciclovir after a heart transplant in a Peruvian public hospital with an unusual presentation. The resistance to these drugs was evident after 277 days of evolution of the disease considering the non-remission of the symptomatology and the persistence of an elevated viral load. The administration of foscarnet led to a clinical and laboratory improvement until remission of the disease.

La infección por citomegalovirus postrasplante cardiaco es una condición médica recurrente. Su frecuencia se incrementa cuando los donantes poseen serología positiva y los receptores presentan serología negativa para el virus. En la población pediátrica, la enfermedad solo se desarrolla en un porcentaje pequeño y raramente presentan resistencia al tratamiento convencional con ganciclovir y valganciclovir. Presentamos el primer reporte de caso pediátrico de enfermedad por citomegalovirus resistente a ganciclovir y valganciclovir postrasplante cardiaco en un hospital público peruano, con una presentación inusual. La resistencia a estos fármacos fue evidente luego de 277 días de evolución de la enfermedad, ante la no remisión de la sintomatología y la persistencia de una carga viral elevada. La posterior administración de foscarnet condujo a una mejora clínica y de laboratorio, hasta la remisión de la enfermedad.

[Purpura due to Strongyloides stercoralis in an immunocompetent patient]. / Púrpura por Strongyloides stercoralis en un paciente inmunocompetente.

Infection with Strongyloides stercoralis is a common parasitic infection in tropical and subtropical regions, including the Peruvian Amazon. The clinical manifestations are varied in patients with immunocompromised disease, and the systemic spread of the disease is frequent, compromising different organs and systems. Cutaneous manifestations are infrequent, being described in patients with some degree of immunosuppression. We present the case of an immunocompetent patient who developed a reactive purpura due to chronic Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Thus, skin involvement is possible in immunocompetent patients with systemic exacerbation due to this parasite.

[Cytomegalovirus disease in post-heart-transplant patients at a national reference center]. / Enfermedad por citomegalovirus en pacientes receptores de trasplante de corazón en un centro de referencia nacional.

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplantation remains as the treatment of choice when the heart failure is refractory to the medical or surgical therapy. Therefore, cytomegalovirus disease is an important post-heart-transplant infectious complication. AIMS: To describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of the cytomegalovirus disease after heart transplant surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted. It enrolled 35 heart-transplant patients attended in the Cardiovascular National Institute (INCOR), between 2010 and 2015. The information was obtained through the review of medical records. The demographic and relevant clinical variables were analyzed for the cytomegalovirus disease cases. RESULTS: The population mean age was 39.49 ± 15.07 years and most of them were male patients (63%). The prevalence of the cytomegalovirus disease was 5.7% (two patients), both were seronegative for cytomegalovirus before transplantation. One of the patients had the disease before finishing the valganciclovir prophylaxis and the other after the end of it. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of the cytomegalovirus disease is slightly lower than in other studies. Moreover, the cytomegalovirus disease can remit with a prompt diagnosis and the proper medical treatment.

Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Report and Literature Review on Two Cases Requiring Prolonged Treatment.

BACKGROUND Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is a global problem due to the high morbidity and mortality it causes. Peru is one of the countries with the highest numbers of cases of XDR-TB, which increase every year. CASE REPORT We present the case of two siblings who developed XDR-TB, underwent surgery twice, and were in individualized treatment for more than 6 years. Finally they achieved remission of symptoms, despite not having standardized treatment schemes during their diagnosis period. CONCLUSIONS Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis can be cured with a treatment that involves both medical care and patient actions to achieve remission of the disease.

Neonato con Ventriculitis causada por Empedobacter Brevis: Reporte de un caso en Perú / Neonate with Ventriculitis caused by Empedobacter Brevis: Report of a case in Peru

RESUMEN Las infecciones causadas por microorganismos poco comunes son objeto de investigación, ya que animar a los investigadores a encontrar las medidas sanitarias necesarias para prevenir y tratar la enfermedad, así como la búsqueda de nuevas luces sobre las interacciones humano-microbios. En este informe se describe el caso de un recién nacido varón diagnosticado de hidrocefalia y mielomeningocele, que desarrolló ventriculitis y sepsis por Empedobacter brevis resistente. Este caso pone de manifiesto la inesperada identificación de esta bacteria en el líquido cefalorraquídeo y su patrón multirresistente, que fue crucial para dar un manejo terapéutico adecuado. Esta bacteria evidencia una mezcla de diferentes etiologías en el análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo.

ABSTRACT Infections caused by rare micro-organisms are the subject of research, as researchers are encouraged to find the necessary health measures to prevent and treat the disease, as well as the search for new insights into human-microbial interactions. This report describes the case of a newborn boy diagnosed with hydrocephalus and myelomeningocele who developed ventriculitis and sepsis from resistant Empedobacter brevis. This case highlights the unexpected identification of this bacterium in the cerebrospinal fluid and its multi-resistant pattern, which was crucial for proper therapeutic management. This bacterium shows a mixture of different etiologies in the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid.

Reporte de caso de resistencia al ganciclovir en enfermedad por citomegalovirus postrasplante cardiaco: case report / Resistance to ganciclovir in cytomegalovirus infection after heart transplant

La infección por citomegalovirus postrasplante cardiaco es una condición médica recurrente. Su frecuencia se incrementa cuando los donantes poseen serología positiva y los receptores presentan serología negativa para el virus. En la población pediátrica, la enfermedad solo se desarrolla en un porcentaje pequeño y raramente presentan resistencia al tratamiento convencional con ganciclovir y valganciclovir. Presentamos el primer reporte de caso pediátrico de enfermedad por citomegalovirus resistente a ganciclovir y valganciclovir postrasplante cardiaco en un hospital público peruano, con una presentación inusual. La resistencia a estos fármacos fue evidente luego de 277 días de evolución de la enfermedad, ante la no remisión de la sintomatología y la persistencia de una carga viral elevada. La posterior administración de foscarnet condujo a una mejora clínica y de laboratorio, hasta la remisión de la enfermedad.

Cytomegalovirus infection after a heart transplant is a recurrent medical condition. Its frequency increases when the donors are serum-positive, and the recipients are serum-negative to this virus. In the pediatric population, the infection only develops in a small percentage and the patients rarely present resistance to conventional treatment with ganciclovir and valganciclovir. We presented the first report of a pediatric case of the cytomegalovirus infection resistant to ganciclovir and valganciclovir after a heart transplant in a Peruvian public hospital with an unusual presentation. The resistance to these drugs was evident after 277 days of evolution of the disease considering the non-remission of the symptomatology and the persistence of an elevated viral load. The administration of foscarnet led to a clinical and laboratory improvement until remission of the disease.

Púrpura por Strongyloides stercoralis en un paciente inmunocompetente / Purpura due to Strongyloides stercoralis in an immunocompetent patient

Resumen La infección por Strongyloides stercoralis es una parasitosis frecuente en las regiones tropicales y subtropicales, incluyendo la Amazonía peruana. En pacientes con inmunocompromiso, las manifestaciones clínicas son variadas y es frecuente la diseminación sistémica de la enfermedad, con compromiso de diversos órganos. Las manifestaciones cutáneas son infrecuentes y se describen en pacientes con algún grado de inmunosupresión. Se presenta el caso de un paciente inmunocompetente que desarrolló una púrpura reactiva por una infección por Strongyloides stercoralis crónica. Ante ello, es posible el compromiso cutáneo en pacientes inmunocompetentes con reagudización sistémica por este parásito.

Infection with Strongyloides stercoralis is a common parasitic infection in tropical and subtropical regions, including the Peruvian Amazon. The clinical manifestations are varied in patients with immunocompromised disease, and the systemic spread of the disease is frequent, compromising different organs and systems. Cutaneous manifestations are infrequent, being described in patients with some degree of immunosuppression. We present the case of an immunocompetent patient who developed a reactive purpura due to chronic Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Thus, skin involvement is possible in immunocompetent patients with systemic exacerbation due to this parasite.

Enfermedad por citomegalovirus en pacientes receptores de trasplante de corazón en un centro de referencia nacional / Cytomegalovirus disease in post-heart-transplant patients at a national reference center

Introduction: Heart transplantation remains as the treatment of choice when the heart failure is refractory to the medical or surgical therapy. Therefore, cytomegalovirus disease is an important post-heart-transplant infectious complication. Aims: To describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of the cytomegalovirus disease after heart transplant surgery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted. It enrolled 35 heart-transplant patients attended in the Cardiovascular National Institute (INCOR), between 2010 and 2015. The information was obtained through the review of medical records. The demographic and relevant clinical variables were analyzed for the cytomegalovirus disease cases. Results: The population mean age was 39.49 ± 15.07 years and most of them were male patients (63%). The prevalence of the cytomegalovirus disease was 5.7% (two patients), both were seronegative for cytomegalovirus before transplantation. One of the patients had the disease before finishing the valganciclovir prophylaxis and the other after the end of it. Conclusion: The prevalence of the cytomegalovirus disease is slightly lower than in other studies. Moreover, the cytomegalovirus disease can remit with a prompt diagnosis and the proper medical treatment.

Introducción: El trasplante cardiaco es el tratamiento de elección ante la falla cardiaca refractaria a la terapia médica o quirúrgica. En base a ello, la enfermedad por citomegalovirus (CMV) es una importante complicación infecciosa post-trasplante de corazón. Objetivos: Describir la prevalencia y las características clínicas de los pacientes que desarrollaron enfermedad por CMV posttrasplante de corazón. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo, donde se incluyó a los 35 pacientes que recibieron trasplante de corazón en el Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular entre el período 2010-2015. La información se obtuvo mediante la revisión de historias clínicas. Se analizaron las variables demográficas y clínicas relevantes de los casos con enfermedad por CMV. Resultados: La edad media de la población fue de 39,49 ± 15,07 años, siendo la mayoría de sexo masculino (63%). La prevalencia de la enfermedad por CMV fue de 5,7%, -dos pacientes-, ambos con serología negativa para CMV previa al trasplante. Uno de ellos presentó la enfermedad antes de terminar la profilaxis con valganciclovir y el otro luego del cese de la misma. Conclusión: La prevalencia de la enfermedad por CMV es ligeramente menor que en otros estudios. Asimismo, ésta puede remitir con un pronto diagnóstico y el adecuado tratamiento médico.