[Evaluation of antibody response to HPV vaccination in HIV infected girls]. / Ocena skutecznosci szczepienia przeciwko HPV dziewczat zakazonych HIV na podstawie badania obecnosci przeciwcial poszczepiennych.

BACKGROUND: HIV-infected women have an increased prevalence of HPV infections and high risk of cervical cancer. HPV vaccines seem to be a successive method of prevention in immunocompetent women. AIM: To evaluate HPV vaccination effectiveness based on the presence of HPV antibodies in HIV infected girls and to establish factors, which influence vaccination effectiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Post vaccination antibodies were evaluated in 17 HIV -infected girls who received 3 doses of quadrivalent (types 6/11/16/18) HPV vaccine at the mean age of 11,5 years (range 9-17 yr). HPV antibodies were checked 1 month to 2 years (mean 18 months) after the third vaccine dose by ELISA HPV IgG assay (Dia.Pro Diagnostic Bioprobes). All patients have been receiving combined antiretroviral treatment (cART). Analyzed factors included: age at HIV diagnosis, age at the first vaccine dose, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classification at diagnosis, at vaccination and at evaluation. RESULTS: HPV antibodies were present in all 17 (100%) patients. HIV-infection was diagnosed at the mean age of 3,5 years (range 1 month--10.5 years). Nadir clinical CDC category: 7/17 patients (41%)--A, 5/17 (29,5%)--B, 5/29 (29.5%)--C. Nadir CDC count pointed moderate immunosuppression in 8/17 (47%) children and severe in 9/17 (53%). At vaccination 15/17 girls had CDC classification N1/A1, 2/17 (11.7%) were classified N2. At evaluation all girls had CDC classification N1 or A1. CONCLUSIONS. HPV vaccination in HIV infected girls resulted in successful antibody response. Immune recovery due to cART resulted in a good vaccine response, even in children with prior severe immunodeficiency.

Comparison of clinical severity and epidemiological spectrum between coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza in children.

Data on the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children are limited, and studies from Europe are scarce. We analyzed the clinical severity and epidemiologic aspects of COVID-19 in consecutive children aged 0-18 years, referred with a suspicion of COVID-19 between February 1, and April 15, 2020. RT-PCR on a nasopharyngeal swab was used to confirm COVID-19. 319 children met the criteria of a suspected case. COVID-19 was diagnosed in 15/319 (4.7%) patients (8 male; mean age 10.5 years). All of them had household contact with an infected relative. Five (33.3%) patients were asymptomatic. In 9/15 (60.0%) children, the course of the disease was mild, and in 1/15 (6.7%), it was moderate, with the following symptoms: fever (46.7%), cough (40%), diarrhea (20%), vomiting (13.3%), rhinitis (6.7%), and shortness of breath (6.7%). In the COVID-19-negative patients, other infections were confirmed, including influenza in 32/319 (10%). The clinical course of COVID-19 and influenza differed significantly based on the clinical presentation. In conclusion, the clinical course of COVID-19 in children is usually mild or asymptomatic. In children suspected of having COVID-19, other infections should not be overlooked. The main risk factor for COVID-19 in children is household contact with an infected relative.

Prevalence and predictors of liver disease in HIV-infected children and adolescents.

Liver disease in HIV-infected patients may result from the infection itself, antiretroviral treatment or comorbidities. In this study, we analysed liver disease in 79 HIV-infected children and adolescents aged 14.0 ± 5.1 years. All the patients were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), with a mean duration of 11.5 ± 4.7 years. Six patients (8%) had detectable HIV viral load, and 8/79 (10%) of the participants were coinfected with hepatitis B or C virus (HCV, 6/8 or HBV, 2/8). Liver disease was defined as an elevation of any of the following parameters: alanine or aspartate aminotransferase (ALT and AST), total bilirubin, and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGTP). For the noninvasive evaluation of liver fibrosis, the AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) were calculated. Liver disease was diagnosed in 20/79 (25%) of the patients, including 13/71 (18%) of participants without coinfection and 7/8 (88%) with coinfection (p < 0.0001). All of the liver markers except bilirubin were significantly higher in the coinfected group. APRI scores indicated significant fibrosis in 5/8 (63%) of patients with coinfection. HBV or HCV coinfection and detectable HIV viral load were independently positively associated with APRI (p = 0.0001, and p = 0.0001) and FIB-4 (p = 0.001, and p = 0.002, respectively). In conclusion, liver disease in HIV-infected children and adolescents results mainly from HBV or HCV coinfection. Effective antiretroviral treatment is protective against hepatic abnormalities.