Nevirapine-associated toxicity in clinical practice in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: to determine the incidence and risk factors for nevirapine (NVP)-associated toxicity in a cohort of HIV-infected people in Buenos Aires, Argentina. DESIGN: retrospective study. METHODS: HIV-infected adults who received NVP-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) at least for 2 weeks between May 1997 and March 2008 were included in this study. We analyzed patients' age, gender, HIV transmission route, HIV disease stage, pregnancy, alcohol intake, adverse events, coinfection with hepatitis B or C virus, time until toxicity, and withdrawal rates. RESULTS: a total of 1110 patients (631 men) were included. Rash was the most frequently observed adverse event; it was more frequent in women. The incidence of severe rash and hepatotoxicity was similar in women and men. Female sex was the only variable significantly associated with mild-to-moderate rash. High CD4 count, pregnancy, and chronic hepatitis were not associated with NVP-related toxicity. An undetectable viral load at the time of starting NVP treatment resulted in a lower risk of NVP-related rash.

Mother-child transmission of Chagas disease: could coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus increase the risk?

A study was conducted on all newborns from mothers with Chagas disease who were attended at Hospital Donación F. Santojanni between January 1, 2001, and August 31, 2007. Each child was investigated for the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia through direct examination of blood under the microscope using the buffy coat method on three occasions during the first six months of life. Serological tests were then performed. Ninety-four children born to mothers infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were attended over the study period. Three of these children were born to mothers coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Vertical transmission of Chagas disease was diagnosed in 13 children, in all cases by identifying parasitemia. The overall Chagas disease transmission rate was 13.8% (13/94). It was 100% (3/3) among the children born to mothers with HIV infection and 10.9% (10/91) among children born to mothers without HIV [Difference = 0.89; CI95 = 0.82-0.95; p = 0.0021]. We concluded that coinfection with HIV could increase the risk of vertical transmission of Chagas disease.

Mother-child transmission of Chagas disease: could coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus increase the risk? / Transmissão materno-fetal da doença de Chagas: poderia a co-infecção com vírus da imunodeficiência humana aumentar o risco?

A study was conducted on all newborns from mothers with Chagas disease who were attended at Hospital Donación F. Santojanni between January 1, 2001, and August 31, 2007. Each child was investigated for the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia through direct examination of blood under the microscope using the buffy coat method on three occasions during the first six months of life. Serological tests were then performed. Ninety-four children born to mothers infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were attended over the study period. Three of these children were born to mothers coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Vertical transmission of Chagas disease was diagnosed in 13 children, in all cases by identifying parasitemia. The overall Chagas disease transmission rate was 13.8 percent (13/94). It was 100 percent (3/3) among the children born to mothers with HIV infection and 10.9 percent (10/91) among children born to mothers without HIV [Difference = 0.89; CI95 = 0.82-0.95; p = 0.0021]. We concluded that coinfection with HIV could increase the risk of vertical transmission of Chagas disease.

Foi realizado um estudo com todos os recém nascidos de mães chagásicas atendidas no Hospital Donación F. Santojanni, no período de1 de janeiro de 2001 a 31 de agosto de 2007. Cada criança foi submetida a pesquisa de parasitemia por Trypanosoma cruzi através do exame microscópico direto do sangue pelo método buffy coat, em três oportunidades, nos primeiros seis meses de vida. Após, foram realizados exames sorológicos. Foram avaliadas 94 crianças nascidas de mães infectadas com Trypanosoma cruzi durante o período do estudo. Três destas crianças eram filhas de mães co-infectadas pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana. A transmissão vertical de doença de Chagas foi diagnosticada em 13 crianças, todos os casos por identificação de parasitemia. A taxa de transmissão global de doença de Chagas foi de 13,8 por cento (13/94); 100 por cento (3/3) entre os recém nascidos de mães infectadas com HIV e de 10,9 por cento (10/91) entre as crianças nascidas de mães sem HIV [Diferenta=0,89; IC95=0,82-0,95; p=0,0021]. Concluímos que a co-infecção com HIV pode aumentar o risco de transmissão vertical de doença de Chagas.

[Rosuvastatin for the treatment of dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Preliminary experience]. / Rosuvastatina para tratamiento de la dislipidemia en pacientes infectados con VIH en tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad. Experiencia preliminar.

INTRODUCTION: Highly active antiviral therapy (HAART) results in a sharp decrease in HIV-related morbidity and mortality, but also induces adverse effects such as dyslipidemia, which is difficult treat because of drug interactions. Guidelines recommend lipid-lowering therapy with pravastatin or atorvastatin to reduce LDL cholesterol in these patients, and gemfibrozil or fenofibrate for treating hypertriglyceridemia. The use of statins in the management of dyslipidemia is complicated by drug interactions with some of the components of HAART. Rosuvastatin, a statin with minimal cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism, could be an alternative option for this population. METHODS: Retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin (10 mg/day) for 16 weeks in HAART-treated HIV-infected patients with dyslipidemia, and moderate to high cardiovascular risk. Results were analyzed with the Shapiro-Wilks, K-S Lilliefors, and sign tests. Percentages were analyzed with the chi-square test. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients were started on rosuvastatin for dyslipidemia, 60 as single therapy. After 16 weeks of treatment, a significant median decrease was seen in both LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol (31.3% reduction in LDL and 29.9% in non-HDL). The therapeutic goal for non-HDL was achieved in 65.8% of patients. The decrease in triglyceride levels was also significant (34.1%); 35% of subjects achieved the therapeutic goal. The drug was withdrawn in 2 patients because of myositis, and in 1 because of gastrointestinal intolerance. There were no differences in efficacy or toxicity between patients receiving protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, or fibrates. CONCLUSION: Rosuvastatin was safe and effective for treating dyslipidemia in HAART-treated HIV-infected patients. Results were similar to those observed in the HIV-uninfected population.

Rosuvastatina para tratamiento de la dislipidemia en pacientes infectados con VIH en tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad. Experiencia preliminar / Rosuvastatin for the treatment of dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Preliminary experience

INTRODUCCIÓN. El tratamiento antirretroviral combinado de gran actividad (TARGA) redujo la morbimortalidad por la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana(VIH), pero indujo efectos adversos como la dislipidemia, cuyo tratamiento se dificulta por interacciones farmacológicas. En las guías para su tratamiento sepropuso usar pravastatina o atorvastatina para reducir el colesterol de las lipoproteínas de baja densidad (c-LDL), y gemfibrozil o fenofibrato para tratar la hipertrigliceridemia. Rosuvastatina, una estatina con escaso metabolismo hepático, podría ser una nueva alternativa. MÉTODOS. Estudio retrospectivo para evaluar la efectividad y la toxicidad del uso de rosuvastatina (10 mg/día) por 16 semanas en pacientes con dislipidemia, portadores del VIH con TARGA y riesgo cardiovascular de moderado a muy elevado. Los resultados se analizaron mediante las pruebas de Shapiro-Wilks, K-S Lilliefors y el test del signo; los porcentajes se compararon mediante la prueba de chi al cuadrado. RESULTADOS. Setenta y ocho pacientes recibieron rosuvastatina, 60 como único hipolipemiante. Tras16 semanas, el descenso mediano del c-LDL y del colesterol no ligado a las lipoproteínas de alta densidad(c-no-HDL) fue significativo (–31,3 y –29,9%,respectivamente); el 65,8% de los pacientes lograron la meta para c-no-HDL. La reducción de la trigliceridemia también fue significativa (–34,1%); el 35% de los pacientes alcanzaron la meta terapéutica para trigliceridemia. Dos individuos suspendieron la droga por toxicidad muscular y uno por intolerancia digestiva. No hubo diferencia en la toxicidad y la eficacia de acuerdo a si los pacientes recibían concomitantemente inhibidores de proteasa, inhibidores de transcriptasa inversa no nucleosídicos o fibratos. CONCLUSIÓN. Rosuvastatina fue efectiva y segura para tratar la dislipidemia de pacientes VIH con TARGA, logrando resultados similares a los descritos en población no infectada por VIH (AU)

INTRODUCTION. Highly active antiviral therapy (HAART)results in a sharp decrease in HIV-related morbidity and mortality, but also induces adverse effects such as dyslipidemia, which is difficult treat because of drug interactions. Guidelines recommend lipid-lowering therapy with pravastatin or atorvastatin to reduce LDL cholesterol in these patients, and gemfibrozil or fenofibrate for treating hypertriglyceridemia. The use of statins in the management of dyslipidemia is complicated by drug interactions with some of the components of HAART. Rosuvastatin, a statin with minimal cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism, could be an alternative option for this population. METHODS. Retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin (10 mg/day) for 16 weeks in HAART-treated HIV-infected patients with dyslipidemia, and moderate to high cardiovascular risk. Results were analyzed with the Shapiro-Wilks, K-S Lilliefors, and sign tests. Percentages were analyzed with the chi-square test. RESULTS. Seventy-eight patients were started on rosuvastatin for dyslipidemia, 60 as single therapy. After 16 weeks of treatment, a significant median decrease was seen in both LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol (31.3% reduction in LDL and 29.9% in non-HDL). The therapeutic goal for non-HDL was achieved in 65.8% of patients. The decrease in triglyceride levels was also significant (34.1%); 35% of subjects achieved the therapeutic goal. The drug was withdrawn in 2 patients because of myositis, and in 1 because of gastrointestinal intolerance. There were no differences in efficacy or toxicity between patients receiving protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, or fibrates. CONCLUSION. Rosuvastatin was safe and effective for treating dyslipidemia in HAART-treated HIV-infected patients. Results were similar to those observed in the HIV-uninfected population (AU)