Hyperhidrosis related to nevirapine therapy.

A 70-year-old white man presented to the internal medicine outpatient clinic with symptoms of significant hyperhidrosis. He had been started on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with tenofovir, lamivudine and nevirapine. The patient complained of excessive sweating following severe asthenia after taking nevirapine. Based on these findings, we suspected that the causative agent was nevirapine and a diagnosis of hyperhidrosis due to nevirapine was made. Nevirapine treatment was stopped and was substituted with efavirenz: the patient continued on therapy with tenofovir and lamivudine. The hyperhidrosis symptoms resolved in 2-3 days. No relapse was observed with the new ART regimen. Drugs that induce hyperhidrosis can cause patient discomfort and embarrassment. In our patient, this adverse drug reaction also caused severe asthenia that decreased the patient's physical and emotional quality of life. There was a temporal relationship between the developments of symptoms and starting nevirapine therapy. Once nevirapine was suspended and switched to efavirenz, excessive sweating resolved. An objective causality assessment revealed that the adverse effect was probable. Until further data are available, clinicians should consider discontinuation of nevirapine therapy in patients who develop severe hyperhidrosis.

Foot ischaemia and toe skin necrosis associated with interleukin-2 infusion in an HIV-infected patient.

A 39-year-old white man developed a severe left toe foot ischaemia and toe skin necrosis following his 12 courses of interleukin (IL)-2 (4.5 MIU twice a day, subcutaneously) for five days every two months. He had no known general risk factors for thrombosis other than HIV infection. An arterial Doppler ultrasound examination of the leg confirmed the permeability of the posterior tibial artery and its digital pulse. A diagnosis of foot ischaemia and toe skin necrosis was made. The suspected causative agent was IL-2 since this was the only drug that the patient was taking before the symptoms appeared. The patient was empirically treated with an aspirin and pentoxifylline in order to improve local microcirculation. We observed a satisfactory response with a quick resolve of skin lesions. The most possible cause of foot ischaemia and toe skin necrosis was considered to be IL-2 because of the temporal relationship between the exposure to the drug and onset of symptoms. Based on the Naranjo probability scale, IL-2 could be considered the probable cause of the foot ischaemia and toe skin necrosis. If clinical evaluation leads to the suspicion of ischaemic process, therapy with IL-2 should be discontinued immediately.

Infección por VIH avirémica: pacientes “controladores de élite” / No disponible

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