A Case of Sustained Viral Shedding of Mpox With Ocular Involvement Resulting in Vision Loss.

Mpox, caused by infection with Monkeypox virus, usually presents as a mild, self-limited illness in immunocompetent persons that resolves within 2-4 weeks. Serious complications have been reported when mpox lesions involve vulnerable anatomic sites, such as the eye, and in those with substantial immunosuppression. We describe a patient with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection and sustained viral shedding of mpox with ocular involvement, which resulted in vision loss.

Observational Study Evaluating the Seroprotection of HepB-alum Vaccine and HepB-CpG Vaccine in People With HIV.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine seroprotection rates with conventional aluminum adjuvanted recombinant HBV vaccines, Engerix-B (HepB-alum) vaccine, among people with HIV (PWH) are varied. Heplisav-B (HepB-CpG) vaccine, a novel adjuvanted recombinant HBV vaccine, has shown higher seroprotection rates in immunocompetent patients but is not well studied in PWH. There are no published studies comparing seroprotection rates between HepB-alum and HepB-CpG in PWH. This study aims to evaluate and compare the seroprotection incidence of HepB-alum vs HepB-CpG in PWH at least 18 years of age. Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study included adults diagnosed with HIV who received a complete series of HepB-alum or HepB-CpG at a community health center in Phoenix, Arizona. Patients had a hepatitis B surface antibody <10 IU/L at the time of the first vaccine dose. The primary outcome was a comparison of seroconversion incidence between HepB-CpG and HepB-alum. Secondary outcomes included identifying factors associated with likelihood of response to HBV vaccination. Results: A total of 120 patients were included in this study, 59 in the HepB-alum cohort and 61 in the HepB-CpG cohort. In the HepB-alum cohort, 57.6% achieved seroconversion, compared with 93.4% in the HepB-CpG cohort (P < .001). Those without diabetes were more likely to have response to a vaccine. Conclusions: Among PWH at a single community health center, HepB-CpG provided a statistically higher incidence of seroprotection against HBV compared with HepB-alum.

The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy on dermatologic disease in a longitudinal study of HIV type 1-infected women.

The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on skin diseases was evaluated in 878 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, a multicenter prospective study. HIV-1-infected women receiving HAART were less likely to have eczema, folliculitis, tinea pedis, and xerosis than were women who had not initiated HAART, independent of CD4+ cell count. Participants who had a prior history of a nadir CD4+ cell count of <200 cells/microL and recent CD4+ cell counts of 200-349 cells/microL were more likely to have eczema and xerosis than were women with a nadir CD4+ cell count of >200 cells/microL and recent CD4+ cell counts of >349 cells/microL. An HIV-1 RNA load of >100,000 copies/mL was associated with increased prevalence of herpes zoster infection (odds ratio, 6.10; 95% confidence interval, 2.00-18.65). History of injection drug use was associated with a higher prevalence of onychomycosis, tinea pedis, and xerosis. Molluscum contagiosum was more prevalent among younger women.

Correlates of prevalent hypertension in a large cohort of HIV-infected women: Women's Interagency HIV Study.

Correlates of hypertension were assessed in 1266 HIV-positive and 368 HIV-negative women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Hypertension prevalence was similar in HIV-positive and HIV-negative women (26 versus 28%, P = 0.38). Factors associated with hypertension included increasing age (P < 0.0001), African-American race (P < 0.0001), and body mass index greater than 30 kg/m (P < 0.0001), whereas current pregnancy was protective (P < 0.04). HIV infection, CD4 cell count, HIV-1 viral load, and antiretroviral therapy were not associated with hypertension.

Preventive counseling, screening, and therapy for the patient with newly diagnosed HIV infection.

The epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues, and the infection is converting into a treatable chronic disease; therefore, it is increasingly important for family physicians to be current with and comfortable in providing basic care to patients infected with HIV. Important aspects of counseling and patient education include stabilization of psychosocial issues and prevention of HIV transmission through behavior change counseling. Reporting HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is mandatory in most states, whereas partner notification laws vary from state to state. Baseline evaluation includes screening for comorbid conditions such as viral hepatitis, syphilis, and tuberculosis, as well as common HIV-related manifestations such as recurrent candidal infections and thrombocytopenia. Baseline testing includes CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell counts and HIV viral RNA levels to assess HIV disease stage, and numerous studies to screen for opportunistic infections. Initial preventive interventions include patient education to reduce exposure to infections, treatment of comorbid conditions such as human papillomavirus-related dysplasia, and vaccinations such as for pneumococcus and hepatitis B. Prophylaxis against opportunistic pathogens is recommended when CD4+ cell counts fall below 200 cells per mm3. Lastly, the indications for antiretroviral therapy include symptomatic patients or those with AIDS, and pre-AIDS patients with CD4+ cell counts of 200 to 350 cells per mm3 or HIV RNA above 55,000 to 100,000 copies per mL.

Factors and temporal trends associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy discontinuation in the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

We characterized factors and temporal trends associated with discontinuation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among 936 HIV-infected women enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. A multivariate analysis of post-HAART initiation exposures found that high HIV RNA levels (relative hazard [RH] = 1.36, P < 0.001) and high depressive symptom scores (RH = 1.53, P = 0.012) were associated with HAART discontinuation. The adjusted hazard of discontinuation was higher in the 2 most recent calendar periods compared with the first (RH = 1.61, P = 0.026; RH = 1.56, P = 0.074, respectively). The increasing risk of HAART discontinuation in recent calendar periods and changes in the clinical factors associated with discontinuation reflect ongoing and dynamic shifts in the approach to HAART utilization.

Substance use and psychotherapeutic medications: a likely contributor to menstrual disorders in women who are seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of substance use and psychotherapeutic medications on menstrual characteristics in women who are human immunodeficiency virus seropositive and seronegative. STUDY DESIGN: Menstrual calendars were prospectively collected for 1075 women who were human immunodeficiency virus seropositive and seronegative and who were enrolled in the Women's Interagency Human Immunodeficiency Virus Study or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemiology Research Study; several of the women were substance users or recipients of psychotherapeutic medications. RESULTS: Women who received methadone maintenance and who used injection drugs had substantially increased odds of a cycle of >or=90 days (odds ratio, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.23-4.22; and odds ratio, 3.87; 95% CI, 2.16-6.95, respectively). The use of psychotherapeutic medications increased the odds of having very short cycles, <18 days, and cycles of >or=90 days (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.16-2.45; and odds ratio, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.03-3.36, respectively). CONCLUSION: Clinicians should evaluate substance use, participation in methadone maintenance programs, and the use of psychotherapeutic medications and consider the neuroendocrinologic effects of these medications as a potential cause of menstrual disruptions.