Adjuvant corticosteroid therapy for chronic disseminated candidiasis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) is typically observed during neutrophil recovery in patients with acute leukemia and requires protracted antifungal therapy. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to document the efficacy and tolerance of corticosteroid therapy (CST) in patients with symptomatic CDC, including those who experienced fever and abdominal pain despite ongoing antifungal therapy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study involving 10 pediatric and adult patients who experienced ongoing symptomatic CDC despite receipt of appropriate antifungal therapy for whom adjuvant oral CST was initiated. RESULTS: All cases of CDC were proven or probable, as determined on the basis of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Mycosis Study Group definition criteria, and occurred in patients with leukemia. CDC-attributable clinical symptoms resolved with CST, which was started a mean of 33.8 days after antifungal therapy had been initiated. Fever and abdominal pain disappeared a median of 4-5 days, and serum fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels returned to normal values within 14-30 days. The median duration of hospitalization after CST initiation was 8.8 days. Hepatosplenic microabscesses decreased or disappeared within a mean period of 107 days (range, 30-210 days). No relapses of CDC were observed during a median duration of follow-up of 6.5 years (range, 4-9 years). CONCLUSIONS: In children and adults who experience persistently symptomatic CDC despite ongoing receipt of antifungal therapy, CST involving a prednisone equivalent at a dosage of > or =0.5 mg/kg per day for at least 3 weeks is associated with a prompt resolution of symptoms and of inflammatory response. These findings support the pathophysiological hypothesis that CDC belongs to the spectrum of fungus-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.

HIV-1 virological remission lasting more than 12 years after interruption of early antiretroviral therapy in a perinatally infected teenager enrolled in the French ANRS EPF-CO10 paediatric cohort: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Durable HIV-1 remission after interruption of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been reported in some adults who started treatment during primary infection; however, whether long-term remission in vertically infected children is possible was unknown. We report a case of a young adult perinatally infected with HIV-1 with viral remission despite long-term treatment interruption. METHODS: The patient was identified in the ANRS EPF-CO10 paediatric cohort among 100 children infected with HIV perinatally who started ART before 6 months of age. HIV RNA viral load and CD4 cell counts were monitored from birth. Ultrasensitive HIV RNA, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-associated HIV DNA, HIV-specific T-cell responses (ie, production of cytokines and capacity to suppress HIV infection), reactivation of the CD4 cell reservoir (measured by p24 ELISA and HIV RNA in supernatants upon phytohaemagglutinin activation of purified CD4 cells), and plasma concentrations of antiretroviral drugs were assessed after 10 years of documented control off therapy. FINDINGS: The infant was born in 1996 to a woman with uncontrolled HIV-1 viraemia and received zidovudine-based prophylaxis for 6 weeks. HIV RNA and DNA were not detected 3 days and 14 days after birth. HIV DNA was detected at 4 weeks of age. HIV RNA reached 2·17× 10(6) copies per mL at 3 months of age and ART was started. HIV RNA was undetectable 1 month later. ART was discontinued by the family at some point between 5·8 and 6·8 years of age. HIV RNA was undetectable at 6·8 years of age and ART was not resumed. HIV RNA has remained below 50 copies per mL and CD4 cell counts stable through to 18·6 years of age. After 11·5 years of control off treatment, HIV RNA was below 4 copies per mL and HIV DNA was 2·2 log10 copies per 10(6) PBMCs. The HLA genotype showed homozygosity at several loci (A*2301-, B*1503/4101, C*0210/0802, DRB1*1101-, and DQB1*0602-). HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses and T-cell activation were weak. INTERPRETATION: Findings from this case suggest that long-term HIV-1 remission is possible in perinatally infected children who receive treatment early, with characteristics similar to those reported in adult HIV post-treatment controllers. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms associated with HIV remission and whether early treatment of infected children might favour the conditions needed to achieve HIV control after treatment discontinuation. FUNDING: Agence de recherche ANRS (France Recherche Nord & Sud Sida-HIV Hépatites).