Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Associated With Parvovirus B19 in a Patient With Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening condition characterized by widespread inflammation due to massive immune activation and cytokine release. It is of 2 types, primary or familial and secondary or acquired. Diagnosis is made by fulfilling 5 of 8 criteria as determined by the Histiocyte Society. Treatment includes etoposide, dexamethasone, with or without intrathecal methotrexate in the presence of neurologic involvement as well as treating the underlying cause in secondary HLH. We present a case of a 23-year-old female with congenital human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who presents with nonspecific signs and symptoms of cough, fever, leukopenia, and anemia, and a high-serum parvovirus B19 DNA, later diagnosed with HLH and treated with etoposide and dexamethasone. She made clinical improvements and was successfully discharged to home after 26 days of admission.

Linfoma de Burkitt en un escolar con infección perinatal por VIH lentamente progresiva / Burkitt's lymphoma in a school boy with slow progression perinatally acquired HIV

Resumen Las manifestaciones clínicas en los niños con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) de transmisión perinatal, pueden ser de inicio precoz o tardío. El linfoma asociado a VIH es una manifestación tardía que se asocia a estadios avanzados de inmunosupresión. Se presenta el caso de un escolar de 9 años con diagnóstico de novo de infección por VIH que debutó con un linfoma de Burkitt. En niños, la frecuencia de esta asociación es de 1-2% con pocos casos reportados en la literatura médica.

Children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can present early or late clinical disease. HIV-associated lymphoma is a later manifestation that is associated with advanced immunosuppression (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome -AIDS). This is a case of a 9-year-old boy with recent diagnosis of HIV with Burkitt's lymphoma as first clinical manifestation. In children, the frequency of this association is very low and there are few cases reported.

[Burkitt's lymphoma in a school boy with slow progression perinatally acquired HIV]. / Linfoma de Burkitt en un escolar con infección perinatal por VIH lentamente progresiva.

Children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can present early or late clinical disease. HIV-associated lymphoma is a later manifestation that is associated with advanced immunosuppression (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome -AIDS). This is a case of a 9-year-old boy with recent diagnosis of HIV with Burkitt's lymphoma as first clinical manifestation. In children, the frequency of this association is very low and there are few cases reported.

Implementación del ensayo de carga viral COBAS Taqman HIV-1 Test, v1. 0, para el diagnóstico de la infección congénita por HIV-1 / Implementation of the viral load assay COBAS Taqman HIV-1 Test, v1.0, for the diagnosis of congenital HIV-1 infection

La transmisión vertical es la principal vía de contagio del HIV en la edad pediátrica. El diagnóstico de la infección congénita antes de los 18meses se realiza mediante ensayos virológicos: detección de genoma viral como ARN plasmático y ADN proviral. La sensibilidad de estos ensayos varía según la edad del niño, con valores de especificidad mayores al 95%. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el desempeño del ensayo de carga viral (CV) COBAS Taqman HIV-1 Test, v1.0 (Roche), y su concordancia con una PCR múltiple anidada in-house para la detección del ADN proviral. De 341 muestras procesadas, 15 resultaron positivas y 326 negativas por ambas metodologías. Para la metodología de CV, la sensibilidad general fue del 88,2% y la especificidad del 100%. Nuestros resultados indican que la metodología de CV evaluada puede utilizarse como técnica alternativa para el diagnóstico de infección congénita por HIV

Vertical transmission is the main route of HIV infection in childhood. Because of the persistence of maternal HIV antibodies, virologic assays that directly detect HIV are required to diagnose HIV infection in infants younger than 18months of age. The sensitivity of HIV RNA/DNA assays increases as the child becomes older. These tests have specificity values greater than 95%. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the COBAS Taqman HIV-1 Test, v1.0 assay (Roche) and its concordance with a Multiplex Nested-PCR. Of 341 samples processed, 15 were positive and 326 negative by both methods. Sensitivity and specificity overall values for the viral load assay were 88.2% and 100%, respectively. Our results indicate that the COBAS Taqman assay evaluated could be used as an alternative method to diagnose HIV congenital infection

Efectividad de la terapia triple antirretroviral en lactante menor con diagnóstico de SIDA categoría C / Effectiveness of triple antiretroviral therapy in a young infant diagnosed with AIDS category C

La falta de medicación antirretroviral durante el embarazo, la no aplicación del protocolo de prevención perinatal del VIH-1 y VIH-2 (PACTG 076) en el momento de la cesárea y la administración de inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa al recién nacido, es la respuesta más directa a la falta de acciones de protección para los niños (as) que nacen de sus progenitoras que se encuentran viviendo con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). En el caso de la nena de 4 meses de edad que nace de un vientre donde se encontraba el presente el VIH, presentan una evolución clínica, inmunológica y virológica que progresivamente la va llevando al estado de caquexia, además de presentar procesos infecciosos secundarios a oportunistas, que se complican con una sepsis determinando la necesidad de ventilación asistida. La administración de forma inmediata de los antirretrovirales (ARV) recomendados por el Programa Nacional de Lucha Contra el VIH/SIDA, sin incluso contar con resultados de carga viral materna, tampoco de la pacientita se asocia dos inhibidores nucleótidos de la transcriptasa inversa, con un inhibidor de la transcriptasa inversa no nucleósido, y los antimicóticos y antimicrobianos adecuados, la respuesta clínica, celular es satisfactoria, así ocurrió con la lactante menor que tratamos. Es cierto que nuestra preferencia es hacer asociaciones con principios químicos de mejor acción sobre este virus, como en nuestro caso ante la evidencia de que la nevirapina nos produjo al quinto día de tratamiento una reacción de alergia (la literatura relata que los casos de esta naturaleza generalmente evolucionan a la muerte), habiéndose además asociado antihistamínicos por vía venosa, y la administración de un inhibidor de la proteasa viral que también es un químico asociado (lopinavir + Ritonavir), habiéndose obtenido una respuesta espectacular, a pesar del fondo de caquexia en que se encontraba la lactante menor de 4 meses de edad. Todo estos acontecimientos de ver cada día más casos de mujeres embarazadas que se enteran de ser portadoras de este virus cuando sus bebes evolucionan atípicamente y/o se encuentran en situaciones clínicas gravísimas, tendrían un mejor pronóstico si se decidiera considerar al VIH/SIDA como el problema de salud número uno en nuestro país.

The lack of antiretroviral medication during pregnancy, failure to apply the protocol perinatal HIV-1 and HIV-2 (PACTG 076) at the time of cesarean delivery and administration of inhibitors of reverse transcriptase newborn is the more directly to the lack of protective actions for children (as) that arise from their mothers who are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) response. In the case of the baby 4 months of age born from a womb where HIV was present, present a clinical, immunological and virological evolution is progressively moving the state of cachexia, besides presenting secondary to opportunistic infectious processes which are complicated by sepsis determining the need for assisted ventilation. The administration immediately antiretroviral (ARV) recommended by the National Programme for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, without even having maternal viral load results, either of two nucleotides pacientita reverse transcriptase inhibitors dela associated with an inhibitor of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase and appropriate antifungal and antimicrobial, clinical, cellular response is satisfactory, so it happened with the lowest infant who try. It is true that our preference is to make partnerships with chemical principles of best action on this virus, as in our case given the evidence that nevirapine we came on the fifth day of treatment an allergic reaction (literature reports that cases of this nature death usually evolve), having further associated antihistamines intravenously, and administration of a viral protease inhibitor which is also an associated chemical (lopinavir + ritonavir), a dramatic response being obtained, despite the background of cachexia that infants under 4 months of age was. All these events to see more and more cases of pregnant women who learn to be carriers of this virus when their babies evolve atypically and / or are in very serious clinical situations, would have a better prognosis if it decides to treat HIV/AIDS as the number one health problem in our country.

Malnutrición en niños colombianos con infección por VIH/SIDA / Malnutrition in Colombian children with HIV/AIDS infection

Introducción: La desnutrición (DNT) es una de las complicaciones más tempranas que se presenta en niños con infección por VIH/SIDA, asociada a su morbimortalidad. Igualmente como consecuencia de la terapia antriretroviral y otros medicamentos utilizados, se han encontrado problemas de resistencia a la insulina y obesidad. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de malnutrición (MNT) en niños con infección por VIH/SIDA por carga viral de la Clínica de VIH/SIDA del Hospital Universitario del Valle de Cali, Colombia (HUV) y su posible asociación con algunos factores de riesgo. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, observacional de corte transversal, con análisis de casos y controles, a quienes se les tomaron datos como carga viral, %CD4, peso y talla. Se categorizó la carga viral (copias/ml) en: <400, ≥400-<300000, ≥30000-<1 millón y ≥1 millón; y el %CD4 en: <15%, ≥15%-<25% y ≥25%. Se consideró DNT global (déficit P/E≥10%), DNT crónica (déficit T/E≥5%), DNT aguda (déficit P/T≥10%) y sobrepeso (exceso P/T≥10%). Resultados: Fueron incluidos 111 niños entre 0 meses y 15 años de edad, con predominio del género masculino (51,3%), con modo de transmisión vertical en 91,8%. El 58.5% tenían entre ≥400-<300000 copias/ml de carga viral; y el 59% presentaron %CD4 ≥25%. La valoración nutricional evidenció DNT global en 64%, DNT aguda en 58%, DNT crónica en 22% y sobrepeso en 18%. Hubo riesgo de 1.7, 1.5 y 2.0 veces más de presentar DNT global, aguda y crónica, respectivamente, si la carga viral era ≥400 copias/ml. Conclusión: En niños con infección por VIH/SIDA por carga viral de la Clínica Pediátrica de VIH/SIDA del HUV de Cali, Colombia, la prevalencia de MNT fue superior al 18%, con una relación positiva superior a 1.5 veces entre carga viral y los diferentes tipos de DNT.

Introduction: Undernutrition (UNT) is a complication that occurs earlier in children with HIV/AIDS associated morbidity and mortality. Also as a result of anti-retroviral therapies and other drugs used, have encountered problems of insulin resistance and obesity. Objective: To determine the prevalence of malnutrition (MNT) in children diagnosed with HIV/AIDS by viral load in the Pediatric Clinic HIV/AIDS at the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia (HUV) and its possible association with certain risk factors. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study, with case-control analysis, whose data were taken as viral load, CD4%, weight and height. Were categorized viral load (copies / ml): <400, ≥ 400 - <300000, ≥ 30000 - <1 million and ≥ 1 million, and the %CD4 <15%, ≥ 15% - <25% ≥ 25%. UNT is considered global (low W/A≥10%), chronic (low H/A≥5%), acute (low W/H≥10%) and overweight (excess W/H≥10%). Results: We included 111 children from 0 months to 15 years old with male predominance (51.3%), mode of transmission in 91.8%. 58.5% were aged ≥ 400 - <300,000 copies/ml viral load, and 59% had CD4% ≥25%. Nutritional assessment showed 64% global UNT, 58% acute UNT, 22% chronic UNT and 18% overweight. Risk was 1.7, 1.5 and 2.0 times the present global, acute and chronic UNT, respectively, if the viral load was ≥ 400 copies / ml. Conclusion: In children diagnosed with HIV/AIDS by viral load of Pediatric Clinic HIV/AIDS at the HUV in Cali, Colombia, the prevalence of MNT was higher than 18%, with a positive relationship more than 1.5 times between viral load and the different types of UNT.

Non-islet-cell tumor hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis in a child with congenital HIV and Burkitt's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Non-islet-cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) is a rare cause of hypoglycemia associated with tumors of mesenchymal, epithelial, or hematopoietic origin. Lactic acidosis is likewise an uncommon complication of hematological malignancy associated mainly with leukemia and lymphoma. Most cases of NICTH and lactic acidosis have been described in the adult population. We report a child with congenital HIV and AIDS who developed Burkitt's lymphoma, lactic acidosis and NICTH. PATIENT: An 11 year-old boy with AIDS, cerebral palsy and seizure disorder presented with intractable hypoglycemia 12 days after diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma. He had persistent hypoglycemia (serum glucose 20-40 mg/dl; 1.1-2.2 mmo/l) despite glucose infusion rate of 6 mg/kg/minute and trial of diazoxide treatment. Critical sample obtained at time of hypoglycemia showed insulin at 1.78 microU/ml (normal <5 microU/ml), pro-insulin 5.6 pmol/l (<18.8 pmol/l), IGF-I <25 ng/ml (80-723 ng/ml), IGF-II 422 ng/ml (610-1,217 ng/ml), lactate 15.6 mmol/l (normal: 0.5-2.2 mmol/l), cortisol 21 microg/dl (580 nmol/l; normal >10 microg/dl; 276 nmol/l), and negative insulin antibodies. He remained alert and seizure free despite profound hypoglycemia. A 1 mg glucagon stimulation test showed a rise in serum glucose of 29 mg/dl (>1.6 mmol/l). Continuous glucagon infusion at 0.15-0.3 mg/h maintained euglycemia until the time of his demise (1 month after admission) due to complications of his underlying illness. CONCLUSION: We present a case of lactic acidosis and NICTH in an 11 year-old boy with AIDS and Burkitts's lymphoma. We review the mechanism of hyperlacticacidemia in supporting cerebral function during profound hypoglycemia. NICTH and lactic acidosis in association with malignancy carries a poor prognosis. In this patient, continuous glucagon infusion was a successful alternative to corticosteroid treatment in maintaining euglycemia.

[Mixed linear regression model for longitudinal data: application to an unbalanced anthropometric data set]. / O modelo de regressão linear misto para dados longitudinais: uma aplicação na análise de dados antropométricos desbalanceados.

A longitudinal data set is characterized by a time sequence of two or more observations from each individual. In cohort studies, these data are usually not balanced. A data set related to longitudinal height measurements in children of HIV-infected mothers was recorded at the university hospital of the Federal University in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The objective was to assess the application of the mixed effect model to this unbalanced data set. At six months of age, on average boys were 1.8 cm taller than girls, and seroreverter infants were 2.9 cm taller than their HIV+ peers. At 12 months of age, on average boys were 2.4 cm taller than girls and seroreverter children were 3.5 cm taller than HIV+ ones. In addition to describing longitudinal height behavior, this model also includes the growth rate estimation for this infant population by gender and group.

[HIV infection in children in Poland - clinical advancement at time of diagnosis]. / Zakazenie HIV u dzieci w polsce - zaawansowanie kliniczne choroby w momencie rozpoznania.

UNLABELLED: At the end of 2006, there were about 130 children with confirmed HIV infection in Poland, 90% of them being infected vertically. AIM: to present the causes, the diagnostic procedure of HIV infection and the assessment of clinical staging at diagnosis of vertical infection in a child. MATERIALS AND METHODS: between 1987-2006 there were 86 HIV infected children (45 male, 41 female) treated in our Department. 78 children had been infected vertically, 8 by other route. Reasons for HIV testing in children and clinical staging at diagnosis were analysed in vertically infected children. The patients were divided into two groups: I - diagnosed because of clinical signs and symptoms, II - because of knowledge of HIV positive status in family members. RESULTS: there were 22/79 children in group I and 56/79 in group II. Vertical HIV infection diagnosis was confirmed at the age from 1 month to 11 years, the mean age was: 26 months - in group I, 25 months - in group II. During the first year of life HIV infection was diagnosed in 36 children (33% of them having AIDS, 36% severe immunodeficiency), at the age of 12-35 months in 22 children (23% of them having AIDS, 32% severe immunodeficiency) and above 35 months in 20 children (15% of them having AIDS, 35% severe immunodeficiency), respectively. Children diagnosed because of clinical manifestations were more likely to have AIDS (p<0.01) and severe immunodeficiency (p<0.07). CONCLUSIONS: early diagnosis in children relies on the knowledge on the mother's HIV infection positive status. In Poland vertical HIV infection diagnosis is established late (mean: above 2 years), often at the advanced stage of the disease.

Decline in mortality, AIDS, and hospital admissions in perinatally HIV-1 infected children in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in demographic factors, disease progression, hospital admissions, and use of antiretroviral therapy in children with HIV. DESIGN: Active surveillance through the national study of HIV in pregnancy and childhood (NSHPC) and additional data from a subset of children in the collaborative HIV paediatric study (CHIPS). SETTING: United Kingdom and Ireland. PARTICIPANTS: 944 children with perinatally acquired HIV-1 under clinical care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes over time in progression to AIDS and death, hospital admission rates, and use of antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: 944 children with perinatally acquired HIV were reported in the United Kingdom and Ireland by October 2002; 628 (67%) were black African, 205 (22%) were aged > or = 10 years at last follow up, 193 (20%) are known to have died. The proportion of children presenting who were born abroad increased from 20% in 1994-5 to 60% during 2000-2. Mortality was stable before 1997 at 9.3 per 100 child years at risk but fell to 2.0 in 2001-2 (trend P < 0.001). Progression to AIDS also declined (P < 0.001). From 1997 onwards the proportion of children on three or four drug antiretroviral therapy increased. Hospital admission rates declined by 80%, but with more children in follow up the absolute number of admissions fell by only 26%. CONCLUSION: In children with HIV infection, mortality, AIDS, and hospital admission rates have declined substantially since the introduction of three or four drug antiretroviral therapy in 1997. As infected children in the United Kingdom and Ireland are living longer, there is an increasing need to address their medical, social, and psychological needs as they enter adolescence and adult life.

Height, weight, and growth in children born to mothers with HIV-1 infection in Europe.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the independent long-term effect on growth of exposure to maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Growth patterns in uninfected children who are born to infected mothers have not been described in detail previously beyond early childhood, and patterns over age for infected and uninfected children have not been based on appropriate general population standards. In vertically HIV-infected children, poor growth has been suggested to be an early marker of infection or progression of disease. However, whether growth faltering is an independent HIV-related symptom or caused indirectly by other HIV clinical symptoms requires clarification. This information is needed to inform the debate on a possible effect of antiretroviral combination therapy on the height of infected children and would provide evidence for the use of specific interventions to improve height. The objective of this study was to describe growth (height and weight) patterns in infected and uninfected children who are born to HIV-infected mothers with respect to standards from a general population and to assess age-related differences in height and weight by infection status, allowing for birth weight, gestational age, gender, HIV-related clinical status, and antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Since 1987, children who were born to HIV-infected mothers in 11 centers in 8 European countries were enrolled at birth in the European Collaborative Study and followed prospectively according to a standard protocol. Height and weight were measured at every visit, scheduled at birth; 3 and 6 weeks; 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months; and every 6 months thereafter. Serial measurements of height and weight from birth to 10 years of age of 1403 uninfected and 184 infected children were assessed. We fitted linear mixed effects models allowing for variance changes over age and within-subject correlation using fractional polynomials and natural cubic splines. Growth patterns were compared with British 1990 growth standards and by infection status. RESULTS: Of the 1587 children enrolled, 810 were male and 777 were female; 1403 were not infected (681 boys, 722 girls), and 184 were infected (88 boys, 96 girls). Neither height nor weight was associated significantly with the main effects of HIV infection status at birth, but differences between infected and uninfected children increased with age. Uninfected children had normal growth patterns from early ages. Infected children were estimated to be significantly shorter and lighter than uninfected children with growth differences increasing with age. Differences in growth velocities between the infected and uninfected children increased after 2 years of age for height and after 4 years of age for weight and were more marked in the latter. Between 6 and 12 months, uninfected children grew an estimated 1.6% faster in height and 6.2% in weight than infected children; between ages 8 and 10 years, these figures were 16% and 44%, respectively. By 10 years, uninfected children were on average an estimated 7 kg heavier and 7.5 cm taller than infected children. Growth in uninfected children who were born before 1994, before the widespread use of ART prophylaxis to reduce vertical transmission, did not substantially differ from that of children who were born after 1994. To investigate whether the growth differences between infected and uninfected children were associated with HIV disease progression, we analyzed growth of infected children using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) clinical classification, in 3 groups: no symptoms, mild or moderate symptoms (A and B), and severe symptoms (C or death). Infected children with mild or serious symptoms lagged behind asymptomatic children in both height and weight, and these differences increased with age. Infected children who were born before availability of ART, before 1988, were more likely to reach a weight below the third centile for age than children who were born after 1994 when effective HIV treatment was widely available. Of the 184 infected children, 67 had been weighed and/or measured at least once while on combination (> or = 2 drugs) ART. Reflecting the longitudinal nature of the European Collaborative Study and the changing availability of HIV treatment, most of these measurements took place after 7 years of age, and therefore analyzing the possible effect of combination therapy on growth is difficult. The z scores for height and weight gain improved substantially in several children who received combination therapy regardless of their CDC clinical classification. To increase available information, we pooled all measurements according to CDC clinical classification and presence of combination therapy at the time of the observation. Weight and height significantly improved for severely ill children after combination therapy. CONCLUSION: Using data from this large prospective European study, we investigated in comparison with general British standards growth patterns in the first 10 years of life of HIV-infected and uninfected children who were born to HIV-infected mothers. The duration of follow-up of uninfected as well as infected children makes this a unique data set. We allowed for repeated measurements for each child and the increase of variability in height and weight with age. Growth faltering may be related to the social environment, and our finding that uninfected children have normal growth, which is unaffected by exposure to maternal HIV infection, is consistent with observations that in Europe the HIV-infected population is more like the general population and less socioeconomically disadvantaged than that in the United States. However, HIV-infected children grew considerably slower, and differences between infected and uninfected children increased with age. Growth patterns in asymptomatic infected children were similar to those with only mild or moderate symptoms. However, compared with these 2 groups combined, severely ill children had poorer growth at all ages. Although limited by the small number of children who received combination therapy, severely ill children may benefit from such therapy in terms of improvements in weight and, to a smaller extent, in height. Growth faltering, particularly stunting, may adversely affect a child's quality of life, especially once they reach adolescence, and this should be taken into account when making decisions about starting and changing ART. Additional research will help to elucidate the relationship between combination therapy and improved growth, in particular regarding different regimens and the best timing of initiation for optimizing growth of infected children.

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a pediatric patient with congenital acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

The coexistence of congenital HIV infection with primary rheumatologic disease is rare. We have described a child with congenital AIDS and concurrent systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with small vessel vasculitis with no renal involvement. Oral corticosteroid therapy resulted in significant improvement in her clinical state. The child also responded strongly to potent antiretroviral therapy both virologically and immunologically.

Proposed initiatives for healthy children orphaned by AIDS.

The epidemiology of AIDS has changed greatly in recent years and increasing numbers of poor, minority women with children now contract HIV/AIDS. As infected women succumb to AIDS, many of their children become orphans. The paper explores the ability and appropriateness of the current child welfare system to care for healthy children orphaned by AIDS, and the likelihood of adoption for this population. The study includes a wide-ranging literature review of information about children orphaned by AIDS, and relevant information about the child welfare system, including racial bias. To determine current support for children orphaned by AIDS, the author surveyed social service departments and private agencies in eight major cities about programs available. Based on this information, the author proposes a series of policy initiatives aimed at alleviating the flight of children orphaned because of AIDS.

Ferritina como factor pronóstico en pacientes con síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida / Ferritin as pronostic factor in patient with adquiried inmunodeficincy syndrome

La ferritina sérica es proporcional a la cantidad de ferritina celular. Varios estudios han propuesto que la hiperferritina contribuye a la inmunosupresión. Nosotros nos propusimos establecer la relación entre ferritina y linfocitos CD4, para encontrar una posible utilidad pronóstica en pacientes con SIDA. Se realizó un estudio con 40 pacientes con infección VIH/SIDA. Se les realizaron niveles de ferritina, subpoblación linfocitaria, hematología y química sanguínea. Los niveles de ferritina con los CD4 y otros variables. El análisis estadístico tuvo un límite de confianza de 95 por ciento. El 80 por ciento de los pacientes eran masculinos. Las infecciones oportunistas más frecuentes fueron: candidiasis fueron: TBC (27,5 por ciento) y PCP (25 por ciento). Los promedios obtenidos fueron: CD4 115,75/mm3, ferritina 322,62 ng/ml, albúmina 2,89 gr/dl, VSG 71,07 seg. Se encontró: 1. Relación inversa albúmina/ferritina (OR 0,249 p: 0,036) y ferritina/CD4 p>0,05; 2. Hiperferritina en 22 pacientes (55 por ciento) de los cuales 18 eran SIDA C3; 3. Se encontró una tendencia a la hiperferritinemia en procesos infecciosos asociado a hemosiderina elevada en sólo 40 por ciento de los casos. La mayoría tuvo hiperferritinemia, no explicable por factores como transfuciones sanguíneas o lesión hepática. Su relación directamente proporcional a la VSG e inversamente proporcional a la albúmina plantea su comportamiento como reactante de fase aguda; por tanto la hiperferritinemia promete suficientemente relevante como marcador indirecto e inespecífico de infecciones oportunistas en pacientes con SIDA, y al tener una relación inversa con los valores de CD4 expresar una idea de la situación inmunológica del individuo

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection detected by serology and 13C-urea breath test in HIV-1 perinatally infected children.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting results have been reported in adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) who were investigated for Helicobacter pylori infection. Most studies indicate a lower prevalence than is found in the general population. The purposes of this study were to evaluate H. pylori prevalence by noninvasive methods in a population of children perinatally infected with HIV-1 and to correlate H. pylori prevalence with HIV-1-related clinical and immunologic status. METHODS: H. pylori infection was studied in 45 children perinatally infected with HIV-1 by performing serologic testing of anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibodies and the 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: Eight children with HIV-1 (17.7%) were positive by serology, and nine (20%) were positive by 13C-urea breath test. No significant differences related to age, previous antibiotic treatment, immunoglobulin administration, antiretroviral treatment, abdominal pain, CD4+ cell count, number of HIV-1 RNA copies, and frequency of severe immunodepression were noted between children with positive 13C-urea breath test results and those with negative results. Children with positive results were significantly more likely to have severe clinical manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: The results show, by both serology and 13C-urea breath test, a prevalence of H. pylori infection comparable with the prevalence in the normal population of the same age. H. pylori prevalence has probably been underestimated in patients with HIV. Results of serologic and histologic analyses for H. pylori require cautious interpretation, especially in severely immunodeficient patients.

Chemokine and chemokine receptor gene variants and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected individuals.

Normal B-lymphocyte maturation and proliferation are regulated by chemotactic cytokines (chemokines), and genetic polymorphisms in chemokines and chemokine receptors modify progression of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. Therefore, 746 HIV-1-infected persons were examined for associations of previously described stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) chemokine and CCR5 and CCR2 chemokine receptor gene variants with the risk of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The SDF1-3'A chemokine variant, which is carried by 37% of whites and 11% of blacks, was associated with approximate doubling of the NHL risk in heterozygotes and roughly a fourfold increase in homozygotes. After a median follow-up of 11.7 years, NHL developed in 6 (19%) of 30 SDF1-3'A/3'A homozygotes and 22 (10%) of 202 SDF1-+/3'A heterozygotes, compared with 24 (5%) of 514 wild-type subjects. The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-protective chemokine receptor variant CCR5-triangle up32 was highly protective against NHL, whereas the AIDS-protective variant CCR2-64I had no significant effect. Racial differences in SDF1-3'A frequency may contribute to the lower risk of HIV-1-associated NHL in blacks compared with whites. SDF-1 genotyping of HIV-1-infected patients may identify subgroups warranting enhanced monitoring and targeted interventions to reduce the risk of NHL.