Faculty Bibliography

Paradoxical inflammatory reactions associated with treatment of neurotuberculosis can lead to severe morbidity and mortality and may not be controlled by steroids alone. We report the use of the Janus kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib to treat a steroid-refractory neurotuberculosis paradoxical reaction.

Background. A 28-day regimen of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) administered within 72 hour significantly reduces HIV infection, for both occupational and nonoccupational exposures (NOE); however, adherence to PEP for NOE has been reported to have poor rates of completion.1 To optimize PEP referrals from our ED to our clinics, we implemented an automated referral system to maximize PEP completion and link patients to outpatient care and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), if appropriate. Methods. In our ED, PEP patients receive a starter kit from an automated medication dispensing system. Starting in March 2017, a daily automated report of patients who received a starter kit in the ED was generated and emailed to patient navigators who would contact patients and offer follow-up appointments. Our main objective was to describe the rate of outpatient follow-up of patients initiated on PEP for NOE from March 2017 to March 2018, as well as patient demographics and linkage to PrEP. Results. Out of 128 patients seen in the ED for PEP, 30% (38) were for NOE. Of these, 68% were female, with a median age of 27 years old (range: 14-59). Nearly half had no insurance (45%). The majority (84%) reported sexual intercourse or sexual assault as the exposure. Most patients were contacted for follow-up (76%) and half (48%) had a follow-up appointment. Patients who presented to the ED >24 hours after exposure were less likely to complete a follow-up (35% vs. 75%, P = 0.035), as were uninsured patients (24% vs. 57%, P = 0.052). From 38 patients, 13 (34%) qualified for PrEP, eight (62%) followed as outpatients and one (8%) was started on PrEP. Conclusion. The automated system ensured that half our PEP patients were seen by an outpatient provider, increasing their likelihood of finishing the 28 days of PEP. Patients presenting late to the ED and uninsured patients were less likely to follow-up. Further research is needed to identify interventions to improve follow-up. Finally, transition to PrEP was low and additional interventions should be explored to improve this process

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women have a higher burden of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and anal cancer (AC) compared with HIV-uninfected women. Guidelines for AC screening in this population are heterogeneous. Here we report outcomes and risk factors for anal HSIL following implementation of universal AC screening offered to all HIV-infected women. METHODS: Data from women who underwent AC screening with anal cytology from April 2009 to July 2014 were analyzed. Routine clinical data included anal and cervical cytology, demographic/behavioral data, and high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) results. We evaluated the association of cytology with HRA results, and predictors of HSIL pathology, and compared rates of HSIL pathology among women meeting screening guidelines to those who did not. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-five HIV-infected women were screened with anal cytology. Thirty-nine percent had abnormal anal cytology on initial screen and 15% on secondary screen; 208 women underwent HRA following abnormal anal cytology. HSIL was found in 26% and 18% of anal biopsies following initial and secondary screening, respectively. One woman had AC. Cigarette smoking more than doubled HSIL risk. Among women who underwent AC screening despite not meeting existing guideline criteria, 21% and 10%, respectively, were found to have HSIL on biopsy. Neither meeting criteria for screening nor history of receptive anal sex was significantly associated with HSIL. CONCLUSIONS: Anal HSIL is common in HIV-infected women. Substantial numbers of HSIL would have been missed by strictly adhering to existing AC screening guidelines. These results support routine screening of all HIV-infected women regardless of human papillomavirus history or sexual practices.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this review was to detail the current therapies and treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus in coinfected patients, focusing on HCV antiviral agents currently used in practice today or scheduled to enter the open market soon. RECENT FINDINGS: Several direct-acting antiviral (DAA) combinations show high sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, which are often close to those observed in HCV-monoinfected patients. Most recommendations regarding treatment stem from trials with coinfected patients. However, data are lacking for some aspects of HCV-treatment in coinfection, so extrapolations must be made from data obtained predominately from monoinfected patients. SUMMARY: HIV/HCV-coinfected patients, who, not too long ago, had inferior outcomes in capturing SVR, now enjoy similar fates as the monoinfected patients. They should thus be prioritized for treatment, since HCV and liver disease have become major causes of morbidity and mortality in this population. However, potential drug-drug interactions between antiretroviral agents and DAAs have to be systematically anticipated before initiating HCV therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the presence of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection in isolated rural communities in the southern Andes of Peru. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in five communities located in three provinces in Ayacucho, Peru. The five communities are located at >3000 meters above sea level and are mainly rural, and more than 85% of the population speaks Quechua. Volunteers aged 12 years and older were included. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected, along with a blood sample for serological testing. RESULTS: We included 397 participants; their median age was 41 years (interquartile range 31-57 years) and 69% were women. According to our definitions, 98% were of Quechua origin. HTLV-1 was diagnosed in 11 people: 0/164 in Cangallo, 3/154 (2%) in Vilcashuaman, and 8/79 (10%) in Parinacochas. There were no cases of HTLV-2. All the HTLV-1-positive participants were born in Ayacucho and were of Quechua origin; they ranged in age from 29 to 87 years (median 56 years) and 10/11 were women. Ten were apparently healthy, and one woman was diagnosed with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Three out of 11 had a family member with a lower limb impairment compatible with HAM/TSP. CONCLUSION: The fact that HTLV-1 infection was present in two out of three provinces suggests that HTLV-1 could be highly endemic in the southern Andes in the Quechua population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and onychodystrophy. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. At our institute, we provide HTLV-1 testing to relatives of HTLV-1-infected people and patients with suspected HTLV-1-associated diseases. The diagnosis of onychodystrophy was made clinically before testing for HTLV-1; the number and distribution of affected nails was registered. We assessed the association between onychodystrophy and HTLV-1 through bi- and multivariable analyses. Logistic regression was used to adjust for age, sex, and indication for HTLV-1 testing, using six affected nails (90(th) percentile) as the cut-off point. RESULTS: Between April 2006 and March 2008, we included 893 subjects; their mean age was 38 years (standard deviation 19 years), and 527 (59%) were women. Onychodystrophy of one or more nails was observed in 323 participants (36%), and 236 subjects (26%) were HTLV-1-positive. The median number of affected nails was higher in HTLV-1-positive than in HTLV-1-negative subjects (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.001). Thirty-eight of 97 subjects with six or more affected nails (39%) were HTLV-1-infected, compared to 198 of 796 subjects with fewer than six affected nails (25%) (crude OR 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.1; p = 0.003). This association remained significant in the multiple logistic regression model (adjusted OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3; p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: There is an independent association between HTLV-1 infection and onychodystrophy. Patients with an HTLV-1 infection might have a higher risk for onychomycosis given the abnormal nail plate and a decreased T-cell-mediated immunologic response.

The human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1 [human T-lymphotropic virus]) is a retrovirus with worldwide distribution. Belongs to the Retroviridae family and subfamily Oncovirinae. It is a lymphotropic virus that mainly involves CD4 lymphocytes. The HTLV-1 is related as the etiologic agent of leukemia / lymphoma, adult T-cell (ATLL) and myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (M / PPET)