Evaluation of inflammatory biomarkers, carotid intima-media thickness and cardiovascular risk in HIV-1 treatment-naive patients

Abstract INTRODUCTION Mortality among HIV patients is 3-15 times higher than that among the general population. Currently, most deaths are due to non-infectious diseases. Chronic inflammation and adverse events due to antiretroviral therapy play crucial roles in increasing cardiovascular risk (CVR). METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and inflammatory biomarkers (D-dimer, ADAMTS13, GDF-15, sICAM-1, MPO, myoglobin, NGAL, SAA, sVCAM-1, and p-selectin) among naïve patients. RESULTS: Sixty-seven participants were included: median age, 32 years; males, 82.1%; non-white, 61.1%; higher education level, 62.7%; and exposed to HIV through sexual relationship (men who have sex with men), 68.7%. The median viral load and LTCD4+ value were 42,033 copies/mL and 426 cells/mm³. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 16.4%; those of diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia were 3% and 70.1%, respectively. The CIMT was 494.08 (± 96.84mm). The mean vascular age was 33.2 ± 18.9 years, one year longer than the chronological age, without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS The majority of participants had a low CVR (94%). After reclassification, considering the CIMT percentiles, 13 (19.4%) patients had medium/ high CVR, while 54 (80.6%) patients had low CVR. The difference between the proportions of CVR when considering the CIMT and its corresponding percentile was statistically relevant. Body mass index was the only predictor of higher CVR (p = 0.03). No biomarker was found to predict CVR. People living with HIV have a high prevalence of dyslipidemia before ARV therapy.

Efetividade do tratamento antirretroviral nas primeiras 48 semanas após seu início, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - 2010 a 2013 / Effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment in the first 48 weeks after its beginning, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - 2010 to 2013

Introdução: Após mais de 30 anos da epidemia e apesar de grandes conquistas, o impacto da infecção HIV/Aids representa ainda grande problema em todo o mundo, permanecendo como um desafio a ser vencido. Método: Trata-se estudo de coorte que avalia a efetividade da terapia antirretroviral (TARV) no primeiro ano de sua introdução. Analisou-se apenas efetividade através da quantificação da carga viral (CV) 48 semanas após o início. Trocas relacionadas à intolerância e evento adverso não foram consideradas falha terapêutica. O estudo foi conduzido no Serviço de Referência em Doenças Infecto-parasitárias (CTR/DIP) Orestes Diniz, em Belo Horizonte, MG, entre outubro de 2010 e janeiro de 2013. Foram incluídos 182 pacientes que preencheram os critérios inclusão. Resultados: Houve predomínio do sexo masculino, maioria abaixo 50 anos. Encontrou-se elevada prevalência de grupos de maior vulnerabilidade para exposição ao HIV, como homens que fazem sexo com homens, que representavam 43,4% da amostra do estudo. A efetividade geral, avaliada através da proporção de CV < limite de detecção, foi 91% (166/182). Análises univariada e multivariada não encontraram associação entre variáveis estudadas e a efetividade do tratamento. Conclusão: Observou-se alta taxa sucesso terapêutico avaliado através da CV, entretanto o grande desafio é a manutenção dos indivíduos no cuidado e adesão ao tratamento. Destaca-se também menor percentual de início tardio da TARV em relação outros estudos brasileiros, entretanto, ainda elevado em relação aos países desenvolvidos. Apesar disso, as respostas imunovirológicas foram superiores às descritas pelo Ministério da Saúde e alguns estudos de eficácia. (AU)

Introduction: After more than 30 years of epidemic and despite all achievements, HIV infection represents healthy problem that still has to be faced. Methods: It is cohort study that analyzes the efficacy of TARV after a year of use. It has studied the effectiveness through the quantification of viral load (VL) change after 48 weeks of use. The changes related to intolerance or adverse effects were not considered as therapeutic failure. The study was conduced in outpatient clinic in Belo Horizonte, MG. It was include 182 patients with HIV that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results: There were found 91% of efficacy. There were more male patients, and the majority was younger than 50 years. The vulnerable group, like men who have sex with men, was the majority (43.4%). Conclusion: There was a high rate of therapeutic success assessed by VL. However, the biggest challenge is the maintenance of the patients in the treatment. This study also highlights the lower percentage of late onset of TARV compared with other Brazilian studies. Unfortunately, our percentage is s higher compared with develop countries. Despite of that, immune and viral response in this study was higher than the values described by Ministry of Health. It is important to remember that our study did not considered the change of initial antiretroviral treatment due intolerance or toxicity as a failed and that could had increased the success rate of this cohort. (AU)

Evaluation of late presentation for HIV treatment in a reference center in Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil, from 2008 to 2010

Introduction: Since 1996 Brazil has provided universal access to free antiretroviral therapy, and as a consequence, HIV/AIDS patients' survival rate has improved dramatically. However, according to scientific reports, a significant number of patients are still late presenting for HIV treatment, which leads to consequences both for the individual and society. Clinical and immunological characteristics of HIV patients newly diagnosed were accessed and factors associated with late presentation for treatment were evaluated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in an HIV/AIDS reference center in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in Southeastern Brazil from 2008 to 2010. Operationally, patients with late presentation (LP) for treatment were those whose first CD4 cell count was less than 350 cells/mm3 or presented an AIDS defining opportunistic infection. Patients with late presentation with advanced disease (LPAD) were those whose first CD4 cell count was less than 200 cells/mm3 or presented an AIDS defining opportunistic infection. LP and LPAD associated risk factors were evaluated using logistic regression methods. Results: Five hundred and twenty patients were included in the analysis. The median CD4 cell count was 336 cells/mm3 (IQR: 130-531). Two hundred and seventy-nine patients (53.7%) were classified as LP and 193 (37.1%) as LPAD. On average, 75% of the patients presented with a viral load (VL) >10,000 copies/ml. In multivariate logistic regression analysis the factors associated with LP and LPAD were age, being symptomatic at first visit and VL. Race was a factor associated with LP but not with LPAD. Conclusion: The proportion of patients who were late attending a clinic for HIV treatment is still high, and effective strategies to improve early HIV detection with a special focus on the vulnerable population are urgently needed. .

Profile of patients diagnosed with AIDS at age 60 and above in Brazil, from 1980 until June 2009, compared to those diagnosed at age 18 to 59

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to learn more about people diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at age 60 and above in Brazil, and to compare them with people diagnosed at a younger age. METHODS: This study was based on the analysis of secondary data from the Brazilian AIDS Program. The study population consisted of people diagnosed with AIDS at age 60 and above. The comparison group was comprised of a 20% random sample of people diagnosed at age 18 to 59, frequency-matched by year of diagnosis. RESULTS: 544,846 cases of AIDS were reported in Brazil from 1980 until June 2009. Over 90% of cases were diagnosed between 18 and 59 years of age, and 13,657 (2.5%) at age 60 and above. The first case of AIDS among the elderly was reported in 1984. The comparison group consisted of 101,528 patients. Gender proportion was similar for both groups, and the proportion of people identified with AIDS after death in the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM) was 4% higher among the elderly. Both groups were also similar regarding the region of residence; a markedly higher proportion lived in Southeastern Brazil. Older people were more likely to have lower education and to have contracted AIDS by heterosexual contact, and less likely to be intravenous drug users. Male to female ratio among those diagnosed with AIDS at or above age 60 decreased over the years, in the same way as observed for the whole cohort. Mortality was higher among men in both groups. CD4 category (taken closest to the date of AIDS diagnosis) was very similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of the epidemic among the elderly show similarities to the younger group considering gender distribution and CD4 category, but differ regarding educational level and exposure category. Also, the elderly were more likely not to have their AIDS condition promptly diagnosed.

Durability of the first combined antiretroviral regimen in patients with AIDS at a reference center in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, from 1996 to 2005

Finding a better first antiretroviral regimen is one of the strategies used to improve span and quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients. 891 patients were followed during 24 months or until interruption/abandonment of treatment, changing regimen or death. At the end of 6 months, 69 percent of the patients were still being treated with the first regimen, 54 percent at 12 months, 48 percent at 18 months and 39 percent at 24 months. AZT-3TC-EFV was the most prescribed regimen and with the lesser discontinuation. NNRTI regimens showed high effectiveness and durability compared to PI regimens. Irregular medication dispensation was the only risk factor for failure/interruption of treatment in multivariate analyses. Intolerance/adverse effects were mainly responsible for first regimen discontinuation, followed by abandonment/non-adherence and virologic failure. Results showed significant difference between causes of interruption of first HAART with higher percentage of intolerance/adverse effects with PI regimens and higher immunologic failure with NNRTI regimens. Even with the availability of more potent and tolerable drugs, lack of adherence to HAART and high level of adverse effects are still the most important barriers to prolonged success of treatment. This study adds relevant information about durability and effectiveness of HAART in the first decade of its use in Brazil.

Uso da vacina contra hepatite B e em indivíduos infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana / Hepatitis B vaccination in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients

O objetivo deste ensaio clínico, randomizado, simples cego, foi comparar a resposta vacinal em pacientes HIV positivos, utilizando a vacina recombinante da hepatite B. em dois esquemas diferentes. A dose regular de 20g de HBsAg (0, 1, 6 meses), via IM, foi administrada em 94 pacientes e a dose em dobro (40g) em 98 pacientes. Os grupos foram homogêneos quanto às variáveis sexo, idade, categoria de exposição, uso de tabaco, bebida e média de células CD4. A taxa de soroconversão (anti-HBsAg  10mUI/ml) / The objetive of this randomized, simple blinded clinical trial was to compare the response of two different schedules of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in HIV-infected patients. A total of 94 patients received 20g of HBsAg at 0,1, 6 months in the deltoid region and 98 patients received a dose of 40g. Both groups distribution were similar according to gender, age, smoking and drinking habits, as well as mean CD4 counts and HIV exposition category. The total seroconvertion rate to anti-HBs ( 10mUI/ml)...