Hepatitis E virus infection in pregnant women, Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an important cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. In pregnant women, HEV can cause more severe symptoms, with high rates of fatal hepatic failure in endemic countries. However, HEV prevalence and circulation among pregnant women from South America is almost unknown. We aimed to investigate HEV infection in pregnant women for the first time in Argentina. METHODS: IgG and IgM anti-HEV antibodies and RNA-HEV were investigated (by ELISA assays and RT-Nested-PCR, respectively) in 202 serum samples from pregnant women collected in the central region of Argentina between 2015 and 2017. A control group of 155 non-pregnant women was included (year 2018). RESULTS: The IgG anti-HEV positivity rate was 8.4% (17/202), higher than the 2.6% (4/155) obtained for the non-pregnant women control group, and showing association between pregnancy and HEV infection (p = 0.023, OR = 3.5, CI95% = 1.1-10.5). Women younger than 25 years old presented higher levels of antibodies, and there were no differences in the prevalences between trimesters of pregnancy. Two samples were reactive for IgM anti-HEV, showing recent infections, although no symptoms were registered in these patients. All samples were negative for RNA-HEV amplification. CONCLUSIONS: HEV produces infections in pregnant women from Argentina, alerting health teams to consider it as a possible cause of liver disease.

Detección de trastornos neurocognitivos en pacientes infectados por HIV mediante pruebas rápidas de cribado / Detection of neurocognitive disorders in patients infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus through fast screening tests

Introducción: Los trastornos neurocognitivos asociados con el HIV (HAND, por sus siglas en inglés) son altamente prevalentes entre las personas que viven con el virus. Existen tres categorías: demencia asociada a HIV, deterioro neurocognitivo leve y trastorno cognitivo asintomático. Diferentes pruebas de cribado son utilizadas para detectarlos: HIV Dementia Scale (HDS), International Dementia Scale (IHDS) y Mini Mental Test (MMSE). Objetivo: Identificar mediante tres pruebas la presencia de trastornos cognitivos en pacientes infectados con HIV y su relación con diferentes factores de riesgo.Métodos: Estudio prospectivo analítico. Criterios de exclusión: neuroinfecciones, patologías psiquiátricas, uso de drogas de abuso, alcoholismo, TCE y antecedentes de neurocirugía. Resultados: Se incluyeron 51 pacientes entre 18 y 67 años. La prevalencia de HAND fue 25,5%. Presentaban deterioro neurocognitivo: el 66% HDS, 14% IHDS y 29% MMSE; y demencia el 73% HDS, 29% IHDS y 7% MMSE. Se encontró asociación entre HAND y diferentes factores de riego, como edad, desnutrición, nivel instructivo bajo, ≥ tiempo desde el diagnóstico de la infección, bajo recuento de LTCD4+, carga viral detectable y tiempo de inicio de TARV. El 100% de los pacientes tenía al menos un antirretroviral con alta penetración de la barrera hematoencefálica.Conclusiones: Los diferentes grados de deterioro neurocognitivo variaron según la prueba utilizada. Todos los pacientes tratados tenían en su esquema al menos un antirretroviral que atraviesa la barrera hematoencefálica. Factores de riesgo como edad, bajo nivel educativo, bajo peso, carga viral detectable, menor recuento de LTCD4 y tiempo de inicio TARV se asociaron a diferentes grados de deterioro neurocognitivo

Background: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) arehighly prevalent among people living with the virus. There are 3 clinical categories; dementia associated with HIV, mild neurocognitive disorder and asymptomatic neurocognitive disorder. Fast screening tests are used to detect them, such as HIV Dementia Scale (HDS), International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) and Mini-mental test (MMSE). The objective of this research was identified through 3 fast screening tests the presence of neurocognitive impairment in patients infected by HIV and his relationship with different risks factors. Methods: Prospective, analytical research.Exclusion criteria: patients with neuroinfections, psychiatric disorders, use of drugs, alcoholism, traumatic brain injury and history of neurosurgery.Results: 51 patients were includedbetween 18 and 67 years old. The prevalence of HAND was 25,5%. 66% HDS, 14% IHDS and 29% MMSE presented neurocognitive impairment; and 73% HDS, 29% IHDS and 7% MMSE exhibited dementia. Significant association was found between HAND and different risk factors like, age, underweight, low educational level, less time since HIV diagnosis, low LTCD4+ count, detectable viral load and time since TARV was initiated. Besides 100% of patients had almost one antiretroviral drug with high penetration through the blood brain barrier.Conclusions: Different levels of neurocognitive disorders varied according to the screening test used. Although all patients treated, had a least one antiretroviral drug which cross the blood brain barrier in their scheme, risk factors such asage, low educational level, underweight, detectable viral load and low LTCD4 level and less time since diagnosis of the infection were associated with different level of neurocognitive disorders.