Lisiane Nogueira

Leprosy and HIV Coinfection: A Clinical, Pathological, Immunological, and Therapeutic Study of a Cohort from a Brazilian Referral Center for Infectious Diseases

BACKGROUND Although awareness of the relevance of leprosy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection is increasing worldwide, several aspects of this co-occurrence are not fully understood. METHODS We describe clinical, pathological, immunological, and therapeutic long-term follow-up of a cohort of 25 individuals with leprosy and HIV infection from Manaus, Amazonas. RESULTS Careful description of our cohort indicates a higher prevalence of leprosy in an HIV-positive population than that in the general population. We also observed upgrading shifting of leprosy clinical forms after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy and multidrug therapy and an impact of HIV infection on leprosy granuloma formation, among other features. CONCLUSION Taken together, these new insights allow the proposition of a classification system that includes (1) leprosy and HIV true coinfection, (2) opportunistic leprosy disease, and (3) leprosy related to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Coinfecção histoplasmose e Aids

This report concerns an AIDS patient presenting systemic and cutaneous manifestations of histoplasmosis. A histopathological and mycological examination of the skin lesion confirmed the diagnosis. In AIDS patients histoplasmosis arises mainly when the T-CD4+ cell count is less than 50 cells/mm3. In such cases, histoplasmosis can be severe and if left untreated can lead to death, as occurred with this patient.This report concerns an AIDS patient presenting systemic and cutaneous manifestations of histoplasmosis. A histopathological and mycological examination of the skin lesion confirmed the diagnosis. In AIDS patients histoplasmosis arises mainly when the T-CD4+ cell count is less than 50 cells/mm3. In such cases, histoplasmosis can be severe and if left untreated can lead to death, as occurred with this patient.

Lobomycosis and squamous cell carcinoma

The occurence of squamous cell carcinoma on long-lasting ulcers is classic. Malignant transformation may occur on burn scars and chronic ulcers of varying etiology, including infectious agents. Transformation of old lobomycosis lesion scars into squamous cell carcinoma has been rarely reported. Careful and long-term follow-up of such patients is important to avoid carcinomatous transformation.

Kindler syndrome: report of two cases.

Kindler syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by trauma-induced blisters, progressive poikiloderma and varying degrees of photosensitivity. In 2003, loss-of-function mutations were identified in the gene KIND1 mapped to chromosome 20p12.3. In this paper, we report Kindler syndrome in two children born to consanguineous parents presenting acral blistering, photosensitivity, poikiloderma, cutaneous atrophy and periodontitis.

Hydroa vacciniforme-like lymphoma in a patient from the Brazilian Amazon

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Proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma - Case report

Epithelioid sarcoma, first described by Enzinger in 1970, is a rare soft-tissue sarcoma typically presenting as a subcutaneous or deep dermal mass in distal portions of the extremities of adolescents and young adults. In 1997, Guillou et al. described a different type of epithelioid sarcoma, called proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma, which is found mostly in the pelvic and perineal regions and genital tracts of young to middle-aged adults. It is characterized by a proliferation of epithelioid-like cells with rhabdoid features and the absence of a granuloma-like pattern. In this paper we present a case of proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma with an aggressive clinical course, including distant metastasis and death nine months after diagnosis.

AIDS-associated paracoccidioidomycosis in a patient with a CD4+ T-cell count of 4 cells/mm³

We describe a case of a patient presenting with HIV and paracoccidioidomycosis co-infection. At the time of diagnosis total CD4+ T-cell count was 4 cells/mm3. Histopathology revealed tuberculoid granulomas, scarce CD4+ T cells, a moderate number of CD8+ cells and the absence of Foxp3+ cells. Most of the cutaneous lesions healed after two weeks of treatment with amphotericin B. After 14 months the patient is still under antiretroviral therapy and no clinical evidence of recurrence of the mycosis has been observed.

Hanseníase borderline virchowiana

It is presented a case of borderline lepromatous leprosy with 4 years of evolution and cutaneous lesions of difficult diagnosis in the National Health System. The histopathological evaluation, which was essential for the diagnosis, showed disorganized granulomatous structures and multiple alcohol -acid resistant bacilli. Cases like the one described here are responsible for the contamination of cohabitants and the appearance of new cases of leprosy.