A novel approach to managing COVID-19 patients; results of lopinavir plus doxycycline cohort.

This manuscript aims to present a treatment algorithm we applied to manage COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital. During the study period, 2043 patients with suspected COVID-19 were admitted to the emergency department. Molecular tests indicated that 475 of these patients tested positive for COVID-19. We administered hydroxychloroquine plus doxycycline to mild cases (isolated at home) for 3 days and lopinavir plus doxycycline to moderate and severe cases (hospitalized) for 5 days. The overall case fatality rate was 4.2% (20/475).

Evaluation of treatment efficacy after switching to dolutegravir-lamivudine dual therapy in people living with HIV.

Background: People living with HIV need to use antiretroviral therapy throughout their lives. Objectives: Studies on the efficacy and safety of dual therapy are limited in Turkey. We sought to evaluate the treatment efficacy and side effects among patients who were given a combination of dolutegravir (DTG) and lamivudine (3TC) as a maintenance therapy. Methods: This retrospective, single-centre study included individuals with viral suppression who were older than 18 years of age, living with HIV, switched from a combination antiretroviral therapy regimen to DTG-3TC dual therapy, and followed up for at least 6 months. Results: The study included 63 patients living with HIV. The median age was 42 years (interquartile range (IQR): 36-51 years). The median follow-up under the DTG-3TC regimen was 10.4 months (7.1-16.0 months). In the course of dual therapy, no patients developed any serious adverse effects that would necessitate a therapy switch, but virological blips were seen in two patients. Two patients lost their lives, with one dying from suicide and one dying from respiratory failure associated with the underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Conclusion: The DTG-3TC dual-therapy regimen is a promising and effective therapy that can be used as a treatment of choice for eligible patients.

Outcomes of Cessation of Antiviral Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Data on the efficacy and duration of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapies to prevent the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients are scarce and heterogeneous. This study aimed to summarize the clinical and laboratory results of the patients with CHB infection who discontinued oral antiviral therapy. Methods: A single-centered cohort study was conducted with CHB infection. NUCs were discontinued in patients who were under viral suppression for at least two years with undetectable HBV DNA levels for 18 months. Risk factors for clinical relapse (CR) were evaluated. Results: A total of 77 patients were recruited. HBeAg status showed that 9.4% of the patients underwent HBeAg seroconversion with NUCs. HBeAg reversion was noted in four (31%) of these patients. Severe hepatitis, which resolved after antiviral therapy was restored, was reported in two out of 77 patients (4%). None of the patients with CR had clinical or biological signs of hepatic decompensation or died during the study period. Conclusions: We found no benefits of the discontinuation of antiviral therapy after viral suppression in patients with initially severe fibrotic HBV infection. In patients with mild to moderate fibrosis, cessation of antiviral treatment is not associated with adverse outcomes.