Kaposi's sarcoma in persons living with HIV/AIDS: a case series in a tertiary referral hospital

Abstract: Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare neoplasm with indolent progression. Since 1981, the Kaposi's sarcoma epidemic has increased as co-infection with HIV. Objectives: The study aimed to identify the clinical and demographic characteristics and therapeutic approaches in HIV/AIDS patients in a regional referral hospital. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of 51 patients with histopathological diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma hospitalized at Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto (HUJBB) from 2004 to 2015. Results: The study sample consisted of individuals 15 to 44 years of age (80.4%), male (80.4%), single (86.3%), and residing in Greater Metropolitan Belém, Pará State, Brazil. The primary skin lesions identified at diagnosis were violaceous macules (45%) and violaceous papules (25%). Visceral involvement was seen in 62.7%, mainly affecting the stomach (75%). The most frequent treatment regimen was 2 NRTI + NNRTI, and 60.8% were referred to chemotherapy. Study limitations: We assumed that more patients had been admitted to hospital without histopathological confirmation or with pathology reports from other services, so that the current study probably underestimated the number of KS cases. Conclusion: Although the cutaneous manifestations in most of these patients were non-exuberant skin lesions like macules and papules, many already showed visceral involvement. Meticulous screening of these patients is thus mandatory, even if the skin lesions are subtle and localized.

Histoplasmosis diseminada en pacientes HIV/SIDA: Buenos Aires, 2009-2014 / Disseminated histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS. Buenos Aires, 2009-2014

Durante 2009-2014, en nuestro hospital fueron diagnosticados 171 casos de histoplasmosis en pacientes con HIV/sida: 64 en 2009-2011, y 107 en 2012-2014. El mayor número de casos durante el segundo trienio no tuvo relación con la infección por HIV, cuya tasa de diagnóstico permaneció estable. La relación hombre/mujer fue 3.7:1 y la edad media 37.4 años. Al diagnóstico, solo 54/171 (31.6%) recibían TARGA y el recuento de linfocitos T CD4+ varió entre 4 y 264 células/μl. El 64.3% (n = 110) presentó lesiones cutáneas (pápulas ulceradas o "moluscoides") positivas para Histoplasma capsulatum al examen microscópico con tinción Giemsa. Siguieron en frecuencia las manifestaciones respiratorias y el lavado broncoalveolar fue positivo en 41/171 (24.0%) pacientes. Las imágenes radiológicas más frecuentes en orden decreciente fueron patrón miliar, infiltrados intersticiales y condensaciones focales. Se aisló H. capsulatum en 82 (58.2%) de los 141 hemocultivos realizados. No hubo diferencia significativa entre el rendimiento diagnóstico del hemocultivo y el de las escarificaciones cutáneas (p = 0.6164). Otras infecciones oportunistas previas o concomitantes con la histoplasmosis se observaron en 70/171 (40.9%). Se registró asociación con tuberculosis en 16/171 (9.4%) y un aislamiento de Mycobacterium tuberculosis resultó multirresistente. La gravedad del caso determinó el tratamiento con anfotericina B desoxicolato en 115 (67.3%), con itraconazol en 43 (25.1%), y con terapias combinadas en 14 (8.2%). La letalidad fue 19.9% (34/171). La mayor prevalencia en el segundo trienio debe alertar a la comunidad médica a considerar el diagnóstico de la histoplasmosis en pacientes con HIV/sida para disminuir la mortalidad.

A retrospective study was carried out on 171 cases of disseminated histoplasmosis diagnosed in HIV/AIDS patients during the period 2009-2014. Although HIV diagnosis rates remained stable over the study period, a sensible increase in the number of histoplasmosis cases was observed in the last three years. Disseminated histoplasmosis was prevalent in males with an average age of 37.8 years. At diagnosis, only 54/171 (31.6%) were receiving HAART, and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts ranged from 4 to 264 cells/μl. Cutaneous lesions, including ulcerated papules or molluscoid plaques, were present in 110/171 (64.3%), with Histoplasma capsulatum being observed in all skin scraping specimens upon Giemsa staining. Respiratory manifestations were second in frequency with bronchoalveolar lavage showing a high diagnostic performance. Radiological findings included milliary patterns, interstitial infiltrates, and focalized condensations. Out of 141 blood cultures performed, H. capsulatum was isolated in 82 (58.2%). No significant difference in diagnostic performance was found between blood cultures and skin scraping (p = 0.6164). Other opportunistic infections were observed in 70/171 (40.9%) prior to or concomitantly with histoplasmosis. Association with Mycobacterium tuberculosis was recorded in 16/171 (9.4%) and one had a multi-drug resistant isolate. The severity of histoplasmosis determined the monotherapy with amphotericin B deoxycholate in 115 (67.3%), itraconazole in 42 (24.5%), and combined therapies in 14 (8.2%). Mortality was 19.9% (34/171). Finally, we emphasize that the higher prevalence in the last three years of the study should prompt the medical community to consider the diagnosis of histoplasmosis to reduce mortality of AIDS patients.

Indeterminate leprosy and lepromatous index case: four cases in the same family / Hanseniase indeterminada e caso indice virchowiano: 4 casos na mesma familia

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Brazil remains as the country with the second largest number of cases in the world. We report the case of three patients diagnosed with indeterminate leprosy in the same family. Two patients were HIV positive. An active search led to the discovery of the index case. It was crucial to persist in the search of the index case. This report shows how important it is to teach physicians and the general population about the signs and symptoms of leprosy. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent sequelae and to eliminate the disease as a public health problem.

A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, que afeta principalmente a pele e nervos periféricos. O Brasil continua sendo o segundo país do mundo com maior número de casos. Aqui relatamos três pacientes diagnosticados com hanseníase indeterminada, pertencentes à mesma família, cuja busca ativa levou à descoberta do caso índice. Dois pacientes eram HIV positivos. Foi de imensa importância a insistência na procura pelo caso índice. Este relato ilustra a importância do ensino sobre sinais e sintomas de hanseníase na formação médica e à população. O pronto reconhecimento e tratamento são necessários para prevenir sequelas e eliminar a doença como problema de saúde pública.

Psoríase associada à infecção pelo HIV/aids / Psoriasis associated with HIV / AIDS

Psoríase é enfermidade inflamatória crônica, de alta prevalência e mediada por fenômenos imunes. A ocorrência da psoríase associada à infecção pelo HIV é relatada com frequência maior do que na população geral.A psoríase pré-existente pode se tornar mais grave ou se tornar mais resistente à terapêutica na medida em que agrava a depleção imune no paciente infectado pelo HIV.A psoríase pode se manifestar desde o início como quadro grave e atípico em paciente infectado pelo HIV. A psoríase grave e rapidamente evolutiva pode ser a manifestação clínica sugestiva de infecção pelo HIV subjacente e insuspeita.O tratamento antirretroviral e a consequente recuperação imune contribuem para melhoria clínica da psoríase associada à infecção pelo HIV.

Chagasic meningoencephalitis in the immunodeficient

Based on their own experience on the literature, the authors compare the brain pathology due to HIV+ associated Trypanosoma cruzi reactived infecction to that described for the natural history of the Chagas' disease (CD). The peculiar focal necrotizing chagasic meningoencephalitis (MECNF) which appears only in immunedeficient chagasics, especially when the deficiency is due HIV is a safe criterion for reactivation of CD. MECNF morphologic findings are unlike to those found either for some cases of acute phase CD or for chronic nervous form of CD.

Valor de la biopsia ganglionar en el paciente HIV/SIDA / Value of ganglionar biopsy in VIH/AIDS patient

La linfadenopatía generalizada y persistente (LGP) es parte del espectro clínico general asociado a la infección con HIV, sin embargo una infección oportunista, el sarcoma de Kaposi o el linfoma no Hodgkin podrán determinar también el desarrollo en algunos casos de linfadenopatías; y si bien en el caso de LGP el estudio histopatológico de un ganglio carecería de relevancia, en los otros casos la realización de una biopsia ganglionar podría estar justificada y tener interés desde el punto de vista diagnóstico, terapéutico y pronóstico. Desde marzo de 1990 a marzo de 1996 se estudiaron en el Instituto de Enfermedades Infecto Contagiosas 68 pacientes, 43 portadores de HIV y 25 con Sida, con 69 biopsias ganglionares. Hubo 10 mujeres y 58 hombres. La edad media fue de 39 años con una mediana de 30 años (rango 20-63). Los informes de la anatomía patológica fueron los siguientes: linfopatía crónica 40, tuberculosis ganglionar 17, histoplasmosis 4, criptococosis 2, sarcoma de Kaposi 1, linfoma no Hodgkin 1, metástasis de carcinoma 1, metástasis de melanoma 1 y no adenopatía 2. El seguimiento promedio de los pacientes fue de 38,67 meses (intervalo de confianza 95 por ciento [lC95]: 32, 17-45,17). La biopsia fue de utilidad en 13 oportunidades de 63 casos, lo que representa 20,63 por ciento, habiéndose descartado 6 casos en los que habiéndose encontrado un ganglio con una infección intercurrente, no se habían realizado estudios bacteriológicos, baciloscópico o micológico previo a la biopsia. Se concluye que la biopsia ganglionar estaría indicada cuando no se cuenta con otros recursos para llegar a el diagnóstico de enfermedad intercurrente que determine un cambio en el tratamiento, el inicio de un nuevo tratamiento o confirmar un tratamiento que se estaba haciendo en forma empírica