ompA Sequencing and Multilocus Sequence Typing of Lymphogranuloma Venereum Cases in Buenos Aires Reveal New Chlamydia trachomatis Genotypes.

Since the Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) outbreak was first described in Buenos Aires in 2017, the detected strains presented peculiar characteristics. Our goal was to increase the understanding of the strains involved in the LGV outbreak in Argentina. We characterized the ompA gene sequences, using Sanger sequencing, of 88 LGV strains from 239 symptomatic patients in Buenos Aires enrolled between 2017 and 2019, and selected 20 C. trachomatis strains for further characterization using Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). Following the ompA gene analysis of the 88 LGV strains, we detected 43% L2b, 31% L1-like, and 26% L2. Among the 38 L2b samples analyzed, there were 7 distinct sequences, 3 of them not previously reported (L2bv12, L2bv13, and L2bv14). Additionally, we detected a strain with a new mutation (AM884176.1:g.59122A>T) found in the position defining L2 or L2b, proposed as L2i. Using MLST, five different sequence types (STs) were detected, including the ST2 (corresponding to the L1-like strains) and a new one (ST60). ST58 was associated with the concomitant presence of another STI and HIV. A high genetic diversity in C. trachomatis LGV strains in Argentina was observed in a short period of time, with a relatively low number of samples from a limited geographical area.

Chlamydia trachomatis anorectal infections by LGV (L1, L2 and L2b) and non-LGV serotypes in symptomatic patients in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) can infect the anorectum producing various signs and symptoms. There is scarce literature regarding the differences between LGV and non-LGV CT anorectal manifestations. We compare the clinical spectrum of LGV and non-LGV infections. METHODS: Patients over 18 years with presumptive infectious anorectal symptoms were examined in two healthcare centres in Buenos Aires. The patients were studied and treated according to current sexually transmitted infection guidelines. Anorectal swabs were collected to detect and genotype CT. RESULTS: A three-year-long study on 317 patients with anorectal symptoms showed 45.11% CT infection (85% LGV strains). Of 140 samples, 92 were sequenced: 80/119 LGV (L2b 45%, L1 32.5% and L2 22.5%) and 12/21 non-LGV. Older age and HIV+ status were significantly higher in the LGV group. Anal discharge, bleeding, severe proctitis and anal ulcers were more common in the LGV group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that HIV infection, anorectal bleeding and oro-anal sex are independent predictors of LGV infection. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with anorectal symptoms, LGV serovars predominate over non-LGV ones. Clinical manifestations are not pathognomonic of a specific biovar. If genotyping is not available, having clinical predictors may help to presume an LGV infection and define length of treatment.

Estudio comparativo de los resultados del tratamiento del carcinoma anal escamoso en los pacientes HIV positivos y negativos / Comparative study of the results of the treatment of squamous anal carcinoma in HIV positive and negative patients

Introducción: El tratamiento del carcinoma anal escamoso (CAE) en los pacientes HIV positivos resulta controvertido. Si bien las guías actuales recomiendan realizar en los pacientes con buen estado inmunológico la quimiorradioterapia (QRT) concurrente estándar, algunos autores consideran que estos pacientes presentan mayor toxicidad y peores resultados a largo plazo, por lo que requerirían un abordaje diferente. El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar los resultados del tratamiento del CAE en los pacientes VIH positivos y negativos. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo comparativo. Pacientes y métodos: Se revisaron retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de los pacientes tratados en el Sector Coloproctología, Hospital Fernández, entre 01/2007 y 10/2018. Los del conducto anal se dividieron en: Grupo I: VIH negativos y Grupo II: VIH positivos. Se compararon variables demográficas, factores de riesgo específicos, estadificación, QRT (drogas, toxicidad y respuesta), tratamiento quirúrgico curativo/paliativo, persistencia/recurrencia y supervivencia específica y global. Resultados: Se incluyeron 28 pacientes (18 mujeres); margen: 2, conducto: 26 (Grupo I: 15. Grupo II: 11). Los VIH positivos eran en su mayoría hombres que tienen sexo con hombres vs. 100% de mujeres VIH negativas (p<0,01), más jóvenes (45,2±0,9 vs. 63,6±8; p<0,01) y tabaquistas (82% vs. 27%; p=0,005). No hubo diferencia significativa en la estadificación, aunque el Grupo II tuvo tumores con complicaciones más severas. Pudieron completar el tratamiento: Grupo I: 93%, Grupo II: 64% (p<0,05). Tuvieron respuesta completa a la QRT 13/14 (93%) pacientes del Grupo I y 3/7 (43%) del Grupo II (p<0,01). Hubo 3 recurrencias, 2 locorregionales y 1 a distancia (p=NS). Los VIH positivos requirieron más cirugías (82% vs. 27%; p<0,01). A 5 pacientes (4 del Grupo II) se les realizó una resección abdominoperineal (RAP). Tuvieron colostomía definitiva, con o sin RAP, el 46% de los pacientes, la mayoría VIH positivos (82% vs. 27%; p=0,002). En los VIH positivos el RR de mortalidad por cáncer fue 4 (IC95%: 1,01-16,5; p=0,02) y el RR de mortalidad global fue 5,45 (IC95%: 1,42-20,8; p=0,002). Tuvieron menor supervivencia, tanto global (p=0,001) como libre de enfermedad (p=0,01). Mediana de seguimiento: 27 meses (4-216).Conclusiones: Los pacientes VIH positivos con CAE se diferenciaron de los VIH negativos en una menor tasa de respuesta completa a la QRT y una mayor necesidad de tratamiento quirúrgico. Además, tuvieron una supervivencia global y libre de enfermedad significativamente menor que los VIH negativos. (AU)

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in HIV-positive patients is controversial. Although current guidelines recommend performing standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with good immune status, some authors believe that these patients have greater toxicity and worse long-term results, so they would require a different approach. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of SCC treatment in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.DESIGN: Comparative retrospective study.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of patients treated in the Coloproctology Section, Hospital Fernández, between 01/2007 and 10/2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Those of the anal canal were divided into: Group I: HIV-negative and Group II: HIV-positive. Demographic variables, specific risk factors, staging, CRT (drugs, toxicity, and response), curative/palliative surgical treatment, persistence/recurrence, and cancer-specific and global survival were compared.RESULTS: 28 patients (18 women), margin: 2, conduit: 26 (Group I: 15. Group II: 11). The HIV-positive were mostly men who have sex with men (vs. 100% HIV-negative women; p<0.01), younger (45.2 ± 0.9 vs. 63.6 ± 8; p<0.01) and smokers (82% vs. 27%; p=0.005). There was no significant difference in staging, although Group II had tumors with more severe complications. Completed the treatment: Group I: 93%, Group II: 64% of patients (p<0,05). Thirteen out of 14 (93%) patients in Group I, and 3/7 (43%) patients in Group II had a complete response to CRT (p<0.01). There were 3 recurrences, 2 loco-regional and 1 distance (p=NS). HIV-positive required more surgery (82% vs. 27%; p<0.01). 5 patients (4 of Group II) underwent an abdominal-perineal resection (APR). Forty six percent of patients had permanent colostomy, with or without APR, most of them were HIV-positive (82% vs. 27%; p=0.002). In HIV-positive patients, the RR of cancer mortality was 4 (95% CI: 1.01-16.5; p=0.02) and the RR of overall mortality was 5.45 (95% CI: 1.42-20, 8; p=0.002). They also had lower overall (p=0.001) and disease-free survival (p=0.01). Median follow-up: 27 months (4 - 216).CONCLUSION: HIV-positive patients with anal SCC were different from HIV-negative patients in that they had a lower complete response rate to CRT, and a greater need for surgical treatment. They had a significantly lower overall and disease-free survival than HIV-negative patients. (AU)

Sífilis anorrectal: una entidad subdiagnosticada. Casuística de un hospital público de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires / Anorectal syphilis: an underdiagnosticated entity. Casuistry of a public hospital in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires

Introducción: Las infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) afectan anualmente a millones de personas. La sífilis aumenta tanto a nivel mundial como nacional. El sexo anorreceptivo es factor predisponente y hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (HSH) son vulnerables. Las lesiones anales en estadio primario provocan intensa proctalgia y en estadio secundario pueden simular condilomas virales, que si resuelven espontáneamente quedan sin diagnóstico etiológico. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, ambispectivo, transversal. Revisión de registros de pacientes atendidos en coloproctología del Hospital Fernández (01/01/2015 - 01/03/2019). Se incluyeron pacientes con serología confirmatoria. Variables analizadas: sexo, edad, diagnóstico de derivación, HIV, otras ITS, sexo anal/oro-anal, estadio, clínica y casos/año.Resultados: Setenta y siete casos (61 hombres, 12 mujeres, 4 mujeres trans). Edad mediana: 30 años (rango: 18 - 72), 48% <30 años, 83% no utilizó preservativo (100% de los HIV+). Diecisiete casos (22%) detectados durante pesquisa de Chlamydia. Cincuenta y ocho pacientes (75%) presentaron ITS asociada. Coexistieron sífilis, HIV y linfogranuloma venéreo (LGV) en 8 HSH. Manifestaciones observadas: proctalgia (77%), proctorragia (55%), secreción (53%) y úlcera anal (51%). 50% de mujeres llegaron con diagnóstico erróneo. Casos/año: 6 en 2015, 13 en 2016, 21 en 2017, 31 en 2018 y 6 en primer bimestre de 2019.Conclusiones: Se detectó aumento progresivo de casos de sífilis anorrectal (mayormente en HSH), que aun siendo HIV+ no usa preservativo. Actualmente debe sospecharse asociación de sífilis con LGV en HSH HIV+. La similitud clínica con patologías no venéreas y la remisión espontánea de lesiones obliga a testearla para evitar su progresión y cortar la cadena de contactos.

Introduction: STIs affect millions of people annually. Syphilis increases both globally and nationally. Anoreceptive sex is a predisposing factor and men who have sex with men (MSM) are vulnerable. The anal lesions in primary stage cause in-tense proctalgia and in secondary stage they can simulate viral condylomas, that if they resolve spontaneously might remain without etiological diagnosis.Methods: Descriptive, ambispective, cross-sectional study. Review of records of patients seen in coloproctology at the Fernández Hospital (01/01/2015 - 03/01/2019). Patients with confirmatory serology were included. Variables ana-lyzed: sex, age, derivation diagnosis, HIV, other STDs, anal sex / oro-anal, stage, clinic and cases/year.Results: Seventy-seven cases (61 men, 12 women, 4 trans-women). Mean age of 30 years (range: 18 - 72), 48% <30 years. 83% did not use condoms (100% of HIV +). Sev-enteen cases (22%) detected during Chlamydia search. Fif-ty-eight patients (75%) had associated STIs. Syphilis, HIV and LGV coexisted in 8 MSM. Manifestations observed: proctalgia (77%), proctorrhagia (55%), discharge (53%), anal ulcer (51%). 50% of women arrived with inacurate diagnosis. Cases/year: 6 in 2015, 13 in 2016, 21 in 2017, 31 in 2018 and 6 in the first two months of 2019.Conclusions: There was a progressive increase in cases of anorectal syphilis (mostly MSM), that even when they are HIV +, does not use a condom. Currently, association of syphilis with LGV in MSM HIV + should be suspected. The clinical similarity with non-venereal pathologies and the spontaneous remission of lesions obliges to test it to avoid its progression and to break the chain of transmission