Prabhakar Singh

Dermatological manifestations in HIV-infected patients at a tertiary care hospital in a tribal (Bastar) region of Chhattisgarh, India

Background: Cutaneous disorders during HIV infection are numerous and skin is often the first and only organ affected during most of the course of HIV disease. Some Cutaneous disorders reflect the progression of HIV disease; though the relation is still controversial. Aims: The objective of this study, conducted at a tertiary care centre in Bastar, Jagdalpur, is to estimate the status of cutaneous manifestation in HIV-infected patients and its relationship with CD4 cell counts. Methods: We enrolled 137 HIV positive subjects. Demographic information such as age, gender, weight, height, socioeconomic status, and educational status were recorded. Laboratory parameter (CD4 counts) and treatment regimen were noted. Patients were examined for skin disorders by a dermatologist. Data were analyzed using chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: Majority of the patients were from rural area (65.69%) and belonged to a low socioeconomic and educational status. 30.65% of the patients were housewives, 23.35% drivers, and 16.78% labourers. Predominant mode of transmission was heterosexual contact (94.16%). Most common HIV-related dermatological manifestations were seborrheic dermatitis (74.16%), xerosis (52.5%), generalized skin hyperpigmentation 56 (46.67%), onychomycosis 53 (44.16%), pruritic papular eruption 27 (22.5%), oral candidiasis 21 (17.5%), photo dermatitis 21 (17.5%), and scabies 4 (3.33%). Significant correlation with low CD4+ cell counts was found for oral candidiasis (P < 0.0001) and Kaposis sarcoma (P = 0.03), while other disorders such as seborrheic dermatitis (P = 0.22), xerosis (P = 0.25), and onychomycosis (P = 0.08) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study showed high prevalence of dermatological manifestations in HIV-infected subjects, and they occur more frequently with progression of HIV and decline in immune functions. Therefore, early diagnosis and management of skin disorders can improve the quality of life of HIV-infected subjects.

Effective control of sickle cell disease with hydroxyurea therapy

Objective: Hemoglobin F augmentation is another approach to treat sickle cell disease (SCD). This study evaluates the efficacy and impact of Hydroxyurea (HU) on fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and other hematological parameters, which result in decreasing the painful crisis and lower hospital admissions. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the Department of Medicine, Government Medical College, Jagdalpur. Twenty-seven patients with SCD received HU at a mean dose of 22 mg/kg/d. The baseline results were analyzed and compared with the post treatment result, at the end of one year. Statistics: Students t-test was used to determine the level of significance. Results: Twenty-four patients completed a one-year period successfully; a significant increase was noted in the mean HbF%, from 12.83 to 19.17, and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) from 82.57 to 89.87 Fl. The mean hospital admission (numbers) in the last one year decreased from 4.75 to 2.25 and the mean number of SCD crisis for the last one year decreased significantly from 3.63 to 1.67. Conclusion: We found a significant reduction in hospital admissions, a reduction in the overall sickle cell crisis and an associated improvement in HbF% without any significant side effects in the patients with SCD, treated with HU.

A prospective, observational cohort study to elicit adverse effects of antiretroviral agents in a remote resource-restricted tribal population of Chhattisgarh

Objective: To assess the adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and its adherence in HIV-infected patients, in remote and tribal area with restricted resources. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, observational study carried out at Department of Medicine, Government Medical College, Jagdalpur. A set of questions were asked and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were recorded for every patient. Results: 79 HIV positive patients were analyzed. Among them, 68 (86%) had at least one ADR. The mean ADR per patient was 1.64 (±1.09). The most common ADR in our study was peripheral neuropathy (20.83%), followed by skin rashes (15.83%). Twenty-one patients (26.58%) had severe (grade-3 and grade-4) ADRs. Female patients had more ADRs (45.71%) than males (11.36%); severe ADRs had a statistically significant positive correlation with sex and CD4 cell count of the patients. Conclusion: In spite of high ADRs, HAART is the only answer to HIV/AIDS; thus, management requires a highly precise balance between benefits of durable HIV suppression and the risks of drug toxicity to achieve the therapeutic goals, with conventional drugs or with newer less toxic agents.

A Pharmacovigilance Study in Medicine Department of Tertiary Care Hospital in Chhattisgarh (Jagdalpur), India

The aim of the present study was to observe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with respect to polypharmacy at tertiary care centre at Bastar, Jagdalpur (Government Medical College, Jagdalpur). A prospective, observational evaluation of the ADRs conducted over a period of 6 months in Department of Medicine in Government Medical College, Jagdalpur. During the study period, a total of about 4850 patients visited the OPD and inpatient ward of medicine department, and 154 ADRs events were reported. Out of 154 reports that were identified, a higher percentage of ADRs in females (51.29%) was observed as compared to males (48.7%). Of the 154 ADRs, 76 (49.35%) were found to be mild, 55 moderate (35.71%), and 23 severe (14.93%). A total of 99 (64.28%) ADRs were observed in patients receiving four or more medications concurrently. Conversely 55 (35.71%) ADRs were detected in patients using three or less medicines. The largest number of reports was associated with antimicrobial therapy (28.57%), followed by antihypertensive (24.02%) and antidiabetics (14.28%). Among the affected organ systems, gastrointestinal ADRs constituted a major component (39.61%) followed by skin reactions (28.57%). On causality assessment, nearly 36.36% ADRs were considered as probable, 31.16% possible, and 9.74% could not be categorized and were placed under unassessable. Expected, limited ADR are permissible in normal clinical setting, but the present study focuses on the result showing increased and amplified ADR associated with the polypharmacy practices, which may be curtailed with rational drug prescribing habit.

Rural epidemiology of HIV positive tribal patients from Chhattisgarh in India

Objective: The primary objective was to study the epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive tribal patients, and the secondary objective was to study the associated comorbidities in a tertiary care hospital in the tribal (Bastar) region of Chhattisgarh, India, between December 2006 and November 2008, and their relation to CD4 counts. Materials and Methods: In this study 90 tribal HIV positive subjects were enrolled. Information on demographics, that is, weight, height, age, educational status, sex, clinical finding, and laboratory parameters (CD4 counts) were noted. Results: Among 90 HIV patients, 54 (60%) were males and 36 (40%) were females. Among these, most patients, 37 (41.1%), were in the age group of 30 to 39 years. Among these patients, 79.56% belonged to the lower socioeconomic status, whereas, only 1.45% were from a high socioeconomic status. The largest group was made up of drivers (32.2%), with the second largest group being housewives (27.7%) and laborers (17.7%), respectively. A majority of the patients had a low education, 35.5% were educated only up to the fifth standard and 31.8% up to high school, while 18.8% were illiterate. The predominant mode of transmission was heterosexual contact (78.8%), only one patient (1.1%) was infected through transfusion of infected blood, five (5.5%) patients acquired infection via vertical (mother to child) transmission, and in 13 patients the transmission history was not clear. Conclusion: There was a high frequency of behavioral risk factors, together with unawareness, and very little health infrastructure, thus creating an impending risk for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

HIV-infected patients and dermatological manifestations in a tertiary care hospital in the tribal (Bastar) region of Chhattisgarh, India between January 2006 and June 2008

Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the status of cutaneous manifestations in HIV-infected patients and its co-relationship with the CD4 cell count at a tertiary care centre at Bastar, Jagdalpur. Material and Methods: In this study, 137 HIV-positive subjects were enrolled. Information on demographics i.e. weight, height, socioeconomic status, age, educational status, sex, laboratory parameters (CD4 counts) and treatment regimens were noted, and patients were examined for skin disorders by a dermatologist. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: Majority of the patients resided in a rural area (65.69%), and belonged to low socioeconomic and educational status; 30.65% were housewives, 23.35% drivers and 16.78% laborers respectively. The predominant mode of transmission was heterosexual contact (94.16%). The most common HIV-related dermatological manifestations were seborrheic dermatitis (74.16%), xerosis (52.5%), generalized skin hyperpigmentation 56 (46.67%), onychomycosis 53 (44.16%), pruritic papular eruption 27 (22.5%), oral candidiasis 21 (17.5%), photo dermatitis 21 (17.5%) and scabies 4 (3.33%). Significant correlation with low CD4+ cell counts was found for oral candidiasis ( P P 0.03), while other disorders like seborrheic dermatitis ( P 0.22), xerosis ( P 0.25) and onychomycosis ( P 0.08) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of dermatological manifestations in HIV-infected subjects, and they occur more frequently with progression of HIV and decline in immune functions. So, early diagnosis and management of skin disorders can improve the quality of life of HIV-infected subjects.