François-Xavier Lescure

Chagas disease, France.

Chagas Disease, France

Comparison of Elastography, Serum Marker Scores, and Histology for the Assessment of Liver Fibrosis in Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-Infected Patients in Burkina Faso

Liver fibrosis (LF) must be assessed before talking treatment decisions in hepatitis B. In Burkina Faso, liver biopsy (LB) remains the gold standard method for this purpose. Access to treatment might be simpler if reliable alternative techniques for LF evaluation were available. The hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients who underwent LB was invited to have liver stiffness measurement (Fibroscan) and serum marker assays. Fifty-nine patients were enrolled. The performance of each technique for distinguishing F0F1 from F2F3F4 was compared. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves was 0.61, 0.71, 0.79, 0.82, and 0.87 for the aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI), Fib-4, Fibrotest, Fibrometre, and Fibroscan. Elastometric thresholds were identified for significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. Combined use of Fibroscan and a serum marker could avoid 80% of biopsies. This study shows that the results of alternative methods concord with those of histology in HBV-infected patients in Burkina Faso. These alternative techniques could help physicians to identify patients requiring treatment.

HIV-associated kidney glomerular diseases: changes with time and HAART

BACKGROUNDnTreatment and co-morbidities of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals have changed dramatically in the last 20 years with a potential impact on renal complications. Our objective was to assess the change in distribution of the glomerular diseases in HIV patients.nnnMETHODSnWe retrospectively analysed demographic, clinical, laboratory and renal histopathological data of 88 HIV-infected patients presenting with a biopsy-proven glomerular disease between 1995 and 2007.nnnRESULTSnIn our study including 66% Black patients, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) was observed in 26 cases, classic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 23 cases, immune complex glomerulonephritis in 20 cases and other glomerulopathies in 19 patients. HIVAN decreased over time, while FSGS emerged as the most common cause of glomerular diseases (46.9%) in HIV-infected individuals undergoing kidney biopsy in the last 2004-07 period. Patients with HIVAN were usually Black (97%), with CD4 <200/mL (P = 0.01) and glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (P < 0.01). Compared to HIVAN, patients with classic FSGS were less often Black (P < 0.01), have been infected for longer (P = 0.03), were more often co-infected with hepatitis C virus (P = 0.05), showed more often cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (P < 0.01), had less often CD4 <200/mL (P = 0.01), lower HIV viral load (P = 0.01) and tended to be older (P = 0.06).nnnCONCLUSIONSnClassic FSGS associated with metabolic and CV risk factors has overcome HIVAN in HIV-infected patients. Compared with other glomerulopathies, HIVAN remains strongly associated with severe renal failure, Black origin and CD4 lower than 200/mL at presentation.

Serologic Response to Hepatitis B Vaccination in HIV-Infected Patients with Isolated Positivity for Antibodies to Hepatitis B Core Antigen

We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccination among 40 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with isolated positivity for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen. No baseline factors were found to be predictive of an anamnestic response, which occurred in 32.5% of the patients. The overall response rate among patients without an anamnestic response was 74.0% after 3-6 vaccine doses.

Viral-bacterial coinfection affects the presentation and alters the prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia

BackgroundMultiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) enables recovery of viruses from airways of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), although their clinical impact remains uncertain.MethodsAmong consecutive adult patients who had undergone a mPCR within 72xa0hours following their admission to one intensive care unit (ICU), we retrospectively included those with a final diagnosis of CAP. Four etiology groups were clustered: bacterial, viral, mixed (viral-bacterial) and no etiology. A composite criterion of complicated course (hospital death or mechanical ventilationu2009>u20097xa0days) was used. A subgroup analysis compared patients with bacterial and viral-bacterial CAP matched on the bacterial pathogens.ResultsAmong 174 patients (132 men [76xa0%], age 63 [53–75] years, SAPSII 38 [27;55], median PSI score 106 [78;130]), bacterial, viral, mixed and no etiology groups gathered 46 (26xa0%), 53 (31xa0%), 45 (26xa0%) and 30 (17xa0%) patients, respectively. Virus-infected patients displayed a high creatine kinase serum level, a low platelet count, and a trend toward more frequent alveolar-interstitial infiltrates. A complicated course was more frequent in the mixed group (31/45, 69xa0%), as compared to bacterial (18/46, 39xa0%), viral (15/53, 28xa0%) and no etiology (12/30, 40xa0%) groups (pu2009<u20090.01). In multivariate analysis, the mixed (viral-bacterial) infection was independently associated with complicated course (reference: bacterial pneumonia; OR, 3.58; CI 95xa0%, 1.16–11; pu2009=u20090.03). The subgroup analysis of bacteria-matched patients confirmed these findings.ConclusionsViral-bacterial coinfection during severe CAP in adults is associated with an impaired presentation and a complicated course.

Rein et infection par le virus de l’immunodéficience humaine

Screening of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that includes estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and evaluation proteinuria should be performed in all HIV-infected patients and these parameters have to be monitored annually in patients at higher risk for CKD. Black patients have a genetic predisposition to develop HIV-associated nephropathy. Suppression of HIV viral replication with antiretroviral therapy prevents the development of HIV-associated nephropathy or halts its progression. Kidney biopsy remains the most informative diagnosis test to differentiate various forms of kidney diseases in HIV-infected patients. Dosing antiretroviral agents with kidney metabolism should be adjusted when eGFR is bellow 50 mL/min/1.73 m(2). eGFR and serum phosphorus at baseline and during treatment should be carefully assessed in patients receiving tenofovir. Proximal renal tubular toxicity must be further evaluated in the presence of eGFR decrease and/or hypophosphatemia under tenofovir therapy.

Factors predictive of virological failure on atazanavir in 310 HIV-infected patients.

We examined factors associated with virological failure in 310 HIV-infected patients receiving atazanavir (ATV). Independent links were identified with virological failure under ATV: virological failure previous history (P = 0.006) and ATV underdosing (P = 0.04). A maintenance therapy was protective (P = 0.01). The optimal therapeutic ranges of ATV concentration were found to be from 300 ng/ml (or 180 for patients treated with maintenance therapy) to 650 ng/ml for C24 and from 1000 ng/ml (or 500 for patients treated with maintenance therapy) to 2000 ng/ml for C12.

Prevalence of respiratory viruses among adults, by season, age, respiratory tract region and type of medical unit in Paris, France, from 2011 to 2016

Background Multiplex PCR tests have improved our understanding of respiratory viruses’ epidemiology by allowing their wide range detection. We describe here the burden of these viruses in hospital settings over a five-year period. Methods All respiratory samples from adult patients (>20 years old) tested by multiplex-PCR at the request of physicians, from May 1 2011 to April 30 2016, were included retrospectively. Viral findings are reported by season, patient age group, respiratory tract region (upper or lower) and type of clinical unit (intensive care unit, pneumology unit, lung transplantation unit and other medical units). Results In total, 7196 samples (4958 patients) were included; 29.2% tested positive, with viral co-infections detected in 1.6% of samples. Overall, two viral groups accounted for 60.2% of all viruses identified: picornaviruses (rhinovirus or enterovirus, 34.3%) and influenza (26.6%). Influenza viruses constituted the group most frequently identified in winter (34.4%), in the upper respiratory tract (32%) and in patients over the age of 70 years (36.4%). Picornavirus was the second most frequently identified viral group in these populations and in all other groups, including lower respiratory tract infections (41.3%) or patients in intensive care units (37.6%). Conclusion This study, the largest to date in Europe, provides a broad picture of the distribution of viruses over seasons, age groups, types of clinical unit and respiratory tract regions in the hospital setting. It highlights the burden associated with the neglected picornavirus group. These data have important implications for the future development of vaccines and antiviral drugs.

Does HIV Infection Alter Parkinson Disease

Objective:To describe the clinical features, treatment(s), and outcomes of 15 HIV-infected patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) and sustained virus suppression and immunologic reconstitution, from a reference cohort of 9847 persons living with HIV (PLH). Methods:This retrospective, single-center matched case–control 1:2 study included PLH-PD patients evaluated over a 12-year period (2002–2013) with mean follow-up of 6.5 years. PD clinical features and dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) were compared, and biologically relevant HIV data were assessed. Results:PD prevalence in PLH was similar to that of the general population. At onset, clinical presentations and therapeutic management were similar for both groups. Rapidly effective DRT was well tolerated without combined antiretroviral therapy interactions or virus escape. At the end of the follow-up, compared with HIV-negative PD, PLH had a significantly lower median Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale motor score (4 vs 14; P < 0.001), median Hoehn and Yahr stage (1 vs 2; P = 0.0005), and median Handipark scale score (2 vs 3; P = 0.0036) under the same daily DRT. One PLH underwent highly successful deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus. Conclusions:HIV-associated PD is similar to idiopathic PD with some features suggesting an HIV-induced functional adaptation of dopaminergic neurons that might counterbalance the PD-induced neuronal loss. Concurrent HIV infection does not compromise the outcome of idiopathic PD.

Sternal Wound Infection after Cardiac Surgery: Management and Outcome

Background Sternal Wound Infection (SWI) is a severe complication after cardiac surgery. Debridement associated with primary closure using Redon drains (RD) is an effective treatment, but data on RD management and antibiotic treatment are scarce. Methods We performed a single-center analysis of consecutive patients who were re-operated for SWI between 01/2009 and 12/2012. All patients underwent a closed drainage with RD (CDRD). Patients with endocarditis or those who died within the first 45 days were excluded from management analysis. RD fluid was cultured twice weekly. Variables recorded were clinical and biological data at SWI diagnosis, severity of SWI based on criteria for mediastinitis as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), antibiotic therapy, RD management and patient’s outcome. Results 160 patients developed SWI, 102 (64%) fulfilled CDC criteria (CDC+) and 58 (36%) did not (CDC- SWI). Initial antibiotic treatment and surgical management were similar in CDC+ and CDC- SWI. Patients with CDC+ SWI had a longer duration of antibiotic therapy and a mortality rate of 17% as compared to 3% in patients with CDC- SWI (p = 0.025). Rates of superinfection (10% and 9%) and need for second reoperation (12% and 17%) were similar. Failure (death or need for another reoperation) was associated with female gender, higher EuroScore for prediction of operative mortality, and stay in the ICU. Conclusion In patients with SWI, initial one-stage surgical debridement with CDRD is associated with favorable outcomes. CDC+ and CDC- SWI received essentially the same management, but CDC+ SWI has a more severe outcome.