Association of body mass index with immune recovery, virological failure and cardiovascular disease risk among people living with HIV.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a longitudinal cohort analysis to evaluate the association of pre-treatment body mass index (BMI) with CD4 recovery, virological failure (VF) and cardiovascular risk disease (CVD) markers among people living with HIV (PLHIV). METHODS: Participants who were enrolled between January 2003 and March 2019 in a regional Asia HIV cohort with weight and height measurements prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation were included. Factors associated with mean CD4 increase were analysed using repeated-measures linear regression. Time to first VF after 6 months on ART and time to first development of CVD risk markers were analysed using Cox regression models. Sensitivity analyses were done adjusting for Asian BMI thresholds. RESULTS: Of 4993 PLHIV (66% male), 62% had pre-treatment BMI in the normal range (18.5-25.0 kg/m2 ), while 26%, 10% and 2% were underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2 ), overweight (25-30 kg/m2) and obese (> 30 kg/m2 ), respectively. Both higher baseline and time-updated BMI were associated with larger CD4 gains compared with normal BMI. After adjusting for Asian BMI thresholds, higher baseline BMIs of 23-27.5 and > 27.5 kg/m2 were associated with larger CD4 increases of 15.6 cells/µL [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.9-28.3] and 28.8 cells/µL (95% CI: 6.6-50.9), respectively, compared with normal BMI (18.5-23 kg/m2 ). PLHIV with BMIs of 25-30 and > 30 kg/m2 were 1.27 times (95% CI: 1.10-1.47) and 1.61 times (95% CI: 1.13-2.24) more likely to develop CVD risk factors. No relationship between pre-treatment BMI and VF was observed. CONCLUSIONS: High pre-treatment BMI was associated with better immune reconstitution and CVD risk factor development in an Asian PLHIV cohort.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease screening and management protocols among adult HIV clinics in Asia.

OBJECTIVES: Integration of HIV and non-communicable disease services improves the quality and efficiency of care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to describe current practices for the screening and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) among adult HIV clinics in Asia. METHODS: Sixteen LMIC sites included in the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS - Asia-Pacific network were surveyed. RESULTS: Sites were mostly (81%) based in urban public referral hospitals. Half had protocols to assess tobacco and alcohol use. Protocols for assessing physical inactivity and obesity were in place at 31% and 38% of sites, respectively. Most sites provided educational material on ASCVD risk factors (between 56% and 75% depending on risk factors). A total of 94% reported performing routine screening for hypertension, 100% for hyperlipidaemia and 88% for diabetes. Routine ASCVD risk assessment was reported by 94% of sites. Protocols for the management of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, high ASCVD risk and chronic ischaemic stroke were in place at 50%, 69%, 56%, 19% and 38% of sites, respectively. Blood pressure monitoring was free for patients at 69% of sites; however, most required patients to pay some or all the costs for other ASCVD-related procedures. Medications available in the clinic or within the same facility included angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (81%), statins (94%) and sulphonylureas (94%). CONCLUSION: The consistent availability of clinical screening, diagnostic testing and procedures and the availability of ASCVD medications in the Asian LMIC clinics surveyed are strengths that should be leveraged to improve the implementation of cardiovascular care protocols.

Early mortality after late initiation of antiretroviral therapy in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) of the International Epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Asia-Pacific.

OBJECTIVES: Early mortality among those still initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) with advanced stages of HIV infection in resource-limited settings remains high despite recommendations for universal HIV treatment. We investigated risk factors associated with early mortality in people living with HIV (PLHIV) starting ART at low CD4 levels in the Asia-Pacific. METHODS: PLHIV enrolled in the Therapeutics, Research, Education and AIDS Training in Asia (TREAT Asia) HIV Observational Database (TAHOD) who initiated ART with a CD4 count < 100 cells/µL between 2003 and 2018 were included in the study. Early mortality was defined as death within 1 year of ART initiation. PLHIV in follow-up for > 1 year were censored at 12 months. Competing risk regression was used to analyse risk factors with loss to follow-up as a competing risk. RESULTS: A total of 1813 PLHIV were included in the study, of whom 74% were male. With 73 (4%) deaths, the overall first-year mortality rate was 4.27 per 100 person-years (PY). Thirty-eight deaths (52%) were AIDS-related, 10 (14%) were immune reconstituted inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)-related, 13 (18%) were non-AIDS-related and 12 (16%) had an unknown cause. Risk factors included having a body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 [sub-hazard ratio (SHR) 2.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60-5.32] compared to BMI 18.5-24.9, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 5 times its upper limit of normal (ULN) (SHR 6.14; 95% CI 1.62-23.20) compared to ALT < 5 times its ULN. A higher CD4 count (51-100 cells/µL: SHR 0.28; 95% CI 0.14-0.55; and > 100 cells/µL: SHR 0.12; 95% CI 0.05-0.26) was associated with reduced hazard for mortality compared to CD4 count ≤ 25 cells/µL. CONCLUSIONS: Fifty-two per cent of early deaths were AIDS-related. Efforts to initiate ART at CD4 counts > 50 cell/µL are associated with improved short-term survival rates, even in those with late stages of HIV disease.

Comparative study of electrophysiological changes in snake bites.

AIMS: To study and compare the electrophysiological changes in neuroparalytic or vasculotoxic snakebites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 patients who had a definite history of snakebite, either vasculotoxic or neuroparalytic, were selected. They were grouped as Group A, 20 patients having a neuroparalytic snakebite with definite envenomation at the time of admission, and Group B, 20 patients having a vasculotoxic snakebite with definite envenomation at the time of admission. All patients underwent a detailed clinical examination, all relevant investigations and nerve conduction studies according to protocol. RESULTS: In this study, we noticed that the motor nerve conduction amplitude, conduction velocity and distal latency were within normal limits in both the groups. On RNS (repetitive nerve stimulation study) of facial and median nerves, a decremental response was seen in 13 (65%) patients in facial nerve and in 7 (35%) patients in median nerve in Group A; while, the same response was seen in 8 (40%) patients in facial nerve and 3 (15%) patients in median nerve in Group B. A post exercise decremental response was seen in 13 (65%) patients in median nerve and 16 (80%) patients in facial nerve in Group A; and, in 3 (15%) patients in median nerve and 8 (40%) patients in facial nerve in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we noticed that the decremental response on RNS was not only present in neuroparalytic snake bite (post-synaptic neuromuscular blockade) but also in vasculotoxic snakebite [pre-synaptic neuromuscular blockade] (seen in Russel's viper).

Cardiac complications of Behcet's disease.

We describe two patients with Behcet's disease (BD) with cardiac complications and their response to treatment. This report adds to the evidence that cardiac involvement can be a feature of Behcet's disease and may be more common than previously thought.

Alveolar haemorrhage in eosinophilic granulomatosis and polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss).

We describe two patients of alveolar haemorrhage in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (eGPA). This report adds to the evidence that pulmonary haemorrhage is a rare but severe manifestation of eGPA. It may not be associated with positive ANCA antibodies and requires aggressive treatment.

Rituximab in the treatment of resistant lupus nephritis: therapy failure in rapidly progressive crescentic lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to report the clinical outcome of B cell depletion therapy in 18 patients with refractory lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: Eighteen patients received rituximab on an open-label basis with prospective evaluations. All patients had renal disease refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapy, including intravenous cyclophosphamide (CyC). All patients fulfilled the revised ACR classification criteria for SLE. Rituximab was given as 2 × 1 g infusions with 500 mg iv CyC and 500 mg iv methylprednisolone, two weeks apart. Complete remission (CR) of nephritis at six months was defined as normal serum creatinine and serum albumin levels, inactive urine sediment, and proteinuria < 0.5 g/day; partial remission (PR) was defined as a ≥50% improvement in all renal parameters that were abnormal at baseline. Clinical response was assessed by the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) score pre- and post-rituximab treatment, and efficacy was recorded by extent and duration of B lymphocyte depletion (normal range 0.100-0.500 × 10(9)/l). Follow-up data were collected at six months, one year post-treatment and at the most recent clinic visit. RESULTS: At six months, 11/18 patients reached renal CR and two of 18 PR. The mean global BILAG scores for responders decreased from 15 (SD 10) to 5 (SD 3), and a total of ten A scores disappeared. Five patients failed to show complete or partial renal response despite peripheral B lymphocyte count depletion, and progressed to end-stage renal failure (ESRF) and dialysis. Four of these patients had severe proliferative, crescentic nephritis, of whom three had Class IV-G, one Class III and one late membranous glomerulonephritis. One patient died six years after rituximab therapy from overwhelming sepsis while on long-term haemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Rituximab therapy achieved a response in 13/18 patients with refractory LN. However, in patients with rapidly progressive crescentic LN, when there is already evidence of significant renal impairment, rituximab therapy may not prevent progression to ESRF and dialysis. Our data also suggest that severe Class IV-G LN may be associated with a poor response to therapy.

Clinicoradiologic correlation in adult patients diagnosed with novel influenza A (H1N1).

BACKGROUND: Influenza A(H1N1) infection affected Indian population in 2009. Patients needed ICU admission and monitoring. OBJECTIVES: To describe and correlate clinical and radiographic features of Influenza A(H1N1) infection in patients hospitalised in Intensive care unit. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of records of 100 RT-PCR confirmed patients with Influenza A(H1N1) infection from August 2009 to March 2010 was done. Each patient underwent an evaluation to determine clinical and radiographic features. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 33.43 years (+/- 12.152) with maximum patients between 18-40 years, with 53% males and 43% females. Cough (96%), Fever (95%), breathlessness (83%), throat pain (34%), crepitations (69%), Tachypnoea (59%)were the prominent symptoms and signs. 61% (n = 63) had comorbid condition like pregnancy (n = 13,20.63%), Diabetes Mellitus (DM) (n = 12,19.05%), HT (n = 11,17.60%), Obesity (n = 10, 15.87%) and Rheumatic Valvular Heart Disease (RVHD) (n = 6,09.52%). Chest X ray was abnormal in 91% patients and normal in 09% pts. Bilateral findings were seen in 61.53% cases. Most common zones affected were lower zones (77.46%), then middle zones (71.42%), followed by upper zones (42.7%). Most common patterns were consolidation (64.83%), reticulonodular (24.17%) and nodular (10.98%). 27.47% had two, 21.97% had four, 19.78% had three,12.08% had six, 7.69% had five and 10.98% had single zone involvement. Fever, cough and tachypnoea were present in all 100% pts with nodular pattern while crepitations were observed in 79.66% cases of consolidation. Patchy consolidation was seen in comorbidities like pregnancy (n = 10) and obesity (n = 06), while reticulonodular pattern was observed in hypertensive patients (n = 06). Maximum number of deaths were between 21 and 30 years of age (60.71%). Total number of deaths were 28 with 60.71% (n = 17) deaths between 21 and 30 years of age. Deaths were more in presence of comorbidities like Pregnancy (n = 5, 17.85%), Hypertension (n = 4,14.28%), Diabetes (n = 3 10.21%) and RVHD (n = 3,10.71%), in presence of RLZ involvement (92.85%), RMZ (89.28%), LMZ (85.21%) and RUZ involvement (71.42%), with consolidation pattern (57.14%) followed by reticulonodular pattern (21.42%) and in presence of six zone involvement (36.37%) followed by four zone (35%) and then by three(33%) and two (32%) zone involvement. Mean duration of hospital stay was 9.1 days. 23% patients stayed for less than 5 days, 41% stayed between 9 and 14 days while only 7% required to stay for more than 15 days. 37% pts showed normal Xray at the time of discharge or death. 38% patients showed persistence of radiological lesion at discharge or death. CONCLUSIONS: Young to middle age patients were commonly affected. Common comorbidities were Pregnancy, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Obesity and patients had fever, cough, breathlessness, tachypnoea, crepitations as common clinical features. Radiologically it was multizonal, bilateral disease with predominant lower zone involvement and common patterns were consolidation followed by reticulonodular and nodular. Patchy consolidation was more common in pregnancy and obesity while reticulonodular pattern was more in hypertensive patients. Fever, cough and tachypnoea were present in all 100% pts with nodular pattern. Crepitations were common in pts with consolidation. Clinical recovery preceded radiological recovery. Young to middle aged individuals died more. Deaths were more in presence of comorbidities like Pregnancy, HT, DM and RVHD, also with RLZ, RMZ, LMZ involvement and with consolidation pattern and with six zone involvement.

Comparison of demographic, clinical, radiological characteristics and comorbidities in mechanically ventilated and nonventilated, adult patients admitted in ICU with confirmed diagnosis of influenza A (H1N1).

INTRODUCTION: Influenza A(H1N1) infection affected Indian population in 2009. Patients needed ICU admission and monitoring. Simple demographic, clinical and radiological variables are described in this article in mechanically ventilated and nonventilated patients. OBJECTIVES: To describe and correlate demographic, clinical, radiographic characteristics and comorbidities in mechanically ventilated and nonventilated, adult patients admitted in ICU with confirmed diagnosis of Influenza A(H1N1) infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of records of 100 RT-PCR confirmed patients with Influenza A (H1N1) infection from August 2009 to March 2010 was done. Each patient underwent an evaluation to determine demographic, clinical and radiographic features, comorbidities, mechanical ventilator required or not. RESULTS: 35 Patients required mechanical ventilation. 27 required IMV, 4 required NIMV while 4 patients initially were put on NIMV required IMV subsequently. 19 (40.42%) female patients required mechanical ventilator. Mean age of mechanically ventilated patients was 33 years, mean duration of illness was 7.9 days, mean duration of hospital stay was 6.8 days. 07 (20.00%) patients with pregnancy, 05 (14.29%) with DM, 05 (14.29%) with HT, 04/11.43%) with obesity required mechanical ventilator. 97.14% patients with fever, 88.54% with breathlessness, 11.43% with haemoptysis, 31.42% patients with throat pain required mechanical ventilator. However except Tachypnoea (p <0.01) no other symptom was statistically significant for mechanical ventilation 33(36.26%) patients with abnormal X ray,16 (80.00%) patients with right sided, 09(60.00%) patients with left sided and 40(71.43%) patients with bilateral disease required mechanical ventilator, right sided (p < 0.01) and bilateral (p <0.01) disease is statistically significant for requirement of mechanical ventilator. 33(47.14%) patients with lower zone involvement, 44 (67.70%) patients with middle zone and 23 (47.92%) patients with upper zone involvement required mechanical ventilator. Upper zone disease (p < 0.01) and middle zone disease (p < 0.01) is statistically significant for requirement of ventilator. 23 (47.92%) patients with right upper zone, 29 (42.64%) patients with right middle zone, 29 (46.77%) with left middle zone, 32 (42.67%) with right lower zone involvement required mechanical ventilator. RUZ (p < 0.01), RMZ (p < 0.01), LMZ (p < 0.001) and RLZ (p < 0.01) involvement had statistical significance for requirement of mechanical ventilator. 20 (33.89%) patients with patchy consolidation, 08 (36.36%) patients with reticulonodular and 05 (50.00%) patients with nodular pattern required mechanical ventilator however none of the pattern is statistically significant for mechanical ventilator. 08 (72.72%) patients with 6 zone involvement, 05 (50.00%) patients with single zone, 08 (40.00%)patients with 4 zone and 06 (33.33%) patients with 3 zone involvement required mechanical ventilator,however none was statistically significant for mechanical ventilator. All four patients requiring NIMV survived, while 28 died out of 31 on IMV. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical ventilation requirement was more in females, in presence of comorbidities like pregnancy, DM, HT, in presence of tachypnoea, in presence of bilateral disease and in presence of middle zone and right upper zone disease and with multiple zone disease. All patients with heart involvement required mechanical ventilator. If there is radiological finding of right upper zone involvement, then, there is more probability that these patients require mechanical ventilator for case management. Similarly, RMZ, LMZ and RLZ and cardiomegaly if shown in X-ray, the necessity of ventilator management is more.

Weight loss and improvements in fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus: a controlled trial of a low glycaemic index diet versus a calorie restricted diet in patients treated with corticosteroids.

BACKGROUND: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may require prolonged periods of corticosteroid therapy which lead to excessive weight gain and increased cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of a low glycaemic index diet in patients with corticosteroid dependent SLE in achieving weight loss and improving glycaemic control. DESIGN: A total of 23 women were enrolled in a 6 week study. All had mild, stable SLE, were receiving corticosteroids and had a body mass index > 25 kg/m(2). Subjects were randomly assigned to a low glycaemic index (Low GI) diet or a calorie restricted (Low Cal) diet. The primary end point was weight loss. Secondary end points included tolerability of diet, bio-markers of cardiovascular risk, disease activity, fatigue and sleep quality. RESULTS: Weight loss in both treatment groups was significant (mean ± SD: Low GI diet 3.9 ± 0.9 kg; Low Cal diet 2.4 ± 2.2 kg, p < 0.01 from baseline in each group). There were also significant improvements in waist and hip measurements. However, the difference in weight loss and waist and hip measurements between the two diet groups was not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant reduction in Fatigue Severity Scale in both diet groups, (p < 0.03). Both Low GI and Low Cal diets were well tolerated, resulting in no serious adverse effects or increase in disease activity. CONCLUSION: Significant weight loss is achievable over 6 weeks in a diet-specific trial in subjects with stable SLE, who are on low dose prednisolone. Both diets were equally tolerable, and did not cause flares in disease activity. Our results suggest that dietary manipulation may significantly improve fatigue in subjects with SLE.

Correlation of 24-hour urinary protein quantification with spot urine protein:creatinine ratio in lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVES: Twenty-four hour urine collection has been the foundation for monitoring patients with lupus nephritis. However, the use of protein to creatinine ratios in spot urine samples is now widely used. We aimed to evaluate the validity of this method cross-sectionally and longitudinally. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted. Records of 486 lupus nephritis patients were searched for paired results of 24-h quantification of urinary protein and a random spot urine protein to creatinine ratio and were examined over a three-year period. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Ninety-five lupus nephritis patients had paired results and were included in the final analysis, male/female 14/81, mean age 36.5 years. Over a three-year period there were a total of 137 samples from 95 patients. For the entire dataset, there was a significant correlation between protein:creatinine ratio and 24-h urine collection protein (mg), Spearman Rho correlation coefficient was 0.869, p < 0.0001 with (R (2 )= 0.504). There was also a strong correlation for longitudinal data, n = 14 at two-years Rho 0.910, p < 0.0001 with (R (2 )= 0.878), n = 8 at three-years Rho 0.909, p < 0.0001 and (R (2 )= 0.73). We have shown for the first time in a UK population of lupus nephritis patients, well trained in producing 24-h collection, that the spot protein:creatinine ratio correlates well with 24-h urinary total protein excretion. Having a simple, reliable, reproducible and cost-effective test such as the spot urine protein:creatinine ratio is therefore a valuable tool with which to monitor disease progression.

Retrospective analysis of necropsy findings in patients of H1N1 and their correlation to clinical features.

India reported its first case of H1N1 in July 2009 in Pune and since then, the number of reported cases and deaths exploded in India. Since very little data is available about histopathological findings in patients of H1N1 fatal cases in India, a retrospective chart analysis of necropsy findings of 15 cases of 2009 H1N1 fatal cases was performed. Common clinical features were fever, cough, and breathlessness followed by sore throat and rhinorrhea. Common lung findings were mononuclear cell infiltration, thick alveolar septae, intraalveolar hemorrhage. The other findings were congested pulmonary blood vessels, pulmonary edema, cytomegaly, fibrin accumulation and formation of eosinophilic membrane. These findings are suggestive of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and DAD with hemorrhage. All patients who underwent necropsy had radiographic findings suggestive of unilobar or multilobar pneumonia. This clinical finding can be correlated pathologically in these patients as all of them had either polymorphonuclear or mononuclear infiltrate. Furthermore, necrotizing pneumonitis pattern seen on these patients is the likely cause of mortality in these patients. Although clinical ARDS pattern was noted in all these patients, it was well correlated in lung pathology in all these cases.

Influenza A (H3N2) associated acute necrotising encephalopathy.

We present a case of 16 year old female admitted with complaints of influenza like symptoms followed by convulsions and sudden impairment of consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were found in bilateral thalami including cerebellum. Diagnosis of influenza associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy was made on the basis of clinical features, neuroimaging findings and isolation of influenza A(H3N2) virus from throat swab. This is probably first case of Influenza associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy reported in India in 2009.

Ankle-brachial pressure index: a simple tool for assessing cardiovascular risk in patients with systemic vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease may be increased in patients with systemic vasculitides (SV). The Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) is a non-invasive tool for the assessment of cardiovascular risk (CV). Our aim was to determine the prevalence of an abnormal ABPI in patients with SV and healthy controls and to correlate with clinical and serological parameters. METHODS: We studied 54 consecutive vasculitis patients (20 males) attending the vasculitis clinic and 49 healthy subjects. Patients were classified according to the ACR 1990 criteria and the Chapel Hill Consensus definitions. There were 18 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis, eight with Behcet's disease, seven with Churg-Strauss Syndrome, three with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, three with polyarteritis nodosa, three with Takayasu's disease, three with p-ANCA associated vasculitis, three with urticarial vasculitis, two with cutaneous leucocytoclastic angiitis, one with microscopic polyangiitis, one with primary central nervous system angiitis, one giant cell arteritis and one with cutaneous vasculitis secondary to Sjogren's syndrome. Traditional risk factors as well as glucose, lipid profile, CRP, hsCRP, ANCA and aPL were assessed. ABPI was measured according to a consensus statement on the methodology. RESULTS: The ABPI was abnormal in 11/54 (20.4%) of SV patients and 2/49 (4%) of the control group (chi(2) with Yates correction = 4.8, P