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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related CD8+ cutaneous pseudolymphoma (CD8+ cytotoxic T cell skin infiltrative disease) is an inflammatory process resulting from a massive infiltration of the skin by activated, oligoclonal, HIV-specific, cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Usually, CD8+ cutaneous pseudolymphoma affects patients with a deep immunosuppression, and is rare in patients with mild immunosuppression. In deeply immunocompromised patients, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is considered as the first-line treatment. In contrast, the choice of therapy in moderately immunocompromised patients and/or patients already receiving HAART remains nonconsensual. We report a case of HIV-related CD8+ cutaneous pseudolymphoma in a moderately immunocompromised patient who was successfully and safely treated with methotrexate. We review the literature on HIV-related CD8+ pseudolymphoma and the use of methotrexate in HIV-positive patients.

Virus load in pregnancy and its relation to mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission were studied prospectively. From 1989 to 1994, 320 HIV-infected women from 18 centers had plasma samples stored. Among women not receiving antiretroviral therapy, the polymerase chain reaction RNA level was 3.6 log at delivery, and 15% of women had levels below the detection limit. There was no variation during pregnancy. Women born in sub-Saharan Africa had lower RNA levels, although their CD4 cell distribution did not differ from that in other women. Among 236 evaluable children, 19% ± 5% were infected. Transmission occurred in 12% of cases (confidence interval, 5%–22%) with < 1000 copies/mL versus 29% ± 10% of those with >10,000 copies/mL (P < .02). Maternal virus load appears strongly related to HIV transmission to the child.

Mortality among individuals co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is relatively high. We evaluated the association between psychoactive substance use and both HCV and non-HCV mortality in HIV/HCV co-infected patients in France, using Fine and Gray’s competing-risk model adjusted for socio-demographic, clinical predictors and confounding factors, while accounting for competing causes of death. Over a 5-year median follow-up period, 77 deaths occurred among 1028 patients. Regular/daily cannabis use, elevated coffee intake, and not currently smoking were independently associated with reduced HCV-mortality (adjusted sub-hazard ratio [95% CI] 0.28 [0.10–0.83], 0.38 [0.15–0.95], and 0.28 [0.10–0.79], respectively). Obesity and severe thinness were associated with increased HCV-mortality (2.44 [1.00–5.93] and 7.25 [2.22–23.6] versus normal weight, respectively). Regular binge drinking was associated with increased non-HCV-mortality (2.19 [1.10–4.37]). Further research is needed to understand the causal mechanisms involved. People living with HIV/HCV co-infection should be referred for tobacco, alcohol and weight control interventions and potential benefits of cannabis-based therapies investigated.

Background To obtain reliable clinical data of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 group O (HIV-1/O) infection, and immunovirological responses to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), in a large series of 101 patients. Methods Piecewise linear models were used to estimate CD4 count before and after cART initiation. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate time to reach clinical stage C before antiretroviral therapy (ART) and to analyze time to achieve a plasma viral load (pVL) <40 copies/mL following cART initiation. Immunovirological response was assessed at the most recent visit in patients on active follow-up. Results Data showed a 16.6% cumulative probability of reaching stage C within 5 years following diagnosis, and a mean CD4 decrease of –30.5 cells/μL/year. cART initiation in ART-naive patients led to a mean CD4 gain of 147 cells/μL after 12 months, and to a median pVL of <40 copies/mL after 3.8 months for 89.3%. Initiation with a nonrecommended nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor–based vs a ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor–based regimen resulted in a much smaller gain of around 100 CD4 cells/μL after 1 year. Patients on follow-up since 2007 had a median CD4 count of 498 cells/μL, and 87% had a pVL <40 copies/mL at the most recent follow-up visit. Conclusions This work provides unique data on HIV-1/O infection, in favor of a milder natural evolution than HIV-1 group M (HIV-1/M) and of a highly efficient current management, based on HIV-1/M guidelines, despite genetic divergence. Studies of comparable HIV-1/M and HIV-1/O populations are needed to confirm these results.

Background Thanks to direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can be cured, with similar rates in HCV-infected and HIV–HCV co-infected patients. HCV cure is likely to foster behavioral changes in psychoactive substance use, which is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH). Cannabis is one substance that is very commonly used by PLWH, sometimes for therapeutic purposes. We aimed to identify correlates of cannabis use reduction following HCV cure in HIV–HCV co-infected cannabis users and to characterize persons who reduced their use. Methods We used data collected on HCV-cured cannabis users in a cross-sectional survey nested in the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort of HIV–HCV co-infected patients, to perform logistic regression, with post-HCV cure cannabis reduction as the outcome, and socio-behavioral characteristics as potential correlates. We also characterized the study sample by comparing post-cure substance use behaviors between those who reduced their cannabis use and those who did not. Results Among 140 HIV-infected cannabis users, 50 and 5 had reduced and increased their use, respectively, while 85 had not changed their use since HCV cure. Cannabis use reduction was significantly associated with tobacco use reduction, a decrease in fatigue level, paying more attention to one’s dietary habits since HCV cure, and pre-HCV cure alcohol abstinence (p = 0.063 for alcohol use reduction). Conclusions Among PLWH using cannabis, post-HCV cure cannabis reduction was associated with tobacco use reduction, improved well-being, and adoption of healthy behaviors. The management of addictive behaviors should therefore be encouraged during HCV treatment.

Background. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is usually based on zidovudine-containing regimens, despite potential toxicities. This multicenter trial evaluated whether lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) monotherapy in HIV type 1—infected women not requiring antiretrovirals for themselves could control maternal viral load (VL). Methods. Overall, 105 pregnant women with baseline VL <30 000 copies/mL and CD4 ≥350 cells/μL were randomized to start open-label LPV/r 400/100 mg twice daily alone (monotherapy group, n = 69) or combined with zidovudine/lamivudine 300/150 mg twice daily (triple therapy group, n = 36) from 26 gestational weeks to delivery. According to a Fleming 2-stage phase 2 design, monotherapy was considered to be efficacious if at least 59 patients achieved VL <200 copies/mL at 8 weeks of treatment (primary endpoint). Secondary endpoints were VL at delivery and tolerance. Results. Monotherapy was efficacious as defined: 62 women in the monotherapy group achieved VL <200 copies/mL at 34 weeks' gestation (ie, 8 weeks of treatment; 89.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 80.2%–95.8%). At delivery, proportions with VL <200 copies/mL were similar in the monotherapy and triple therapy groups (92.8% vs 97.2%; P = .66); however, fewer had VL <50 copies/mL in the monotherapy group (78.3% vs 97.2%; P = .01). Changes for intolerance were less frequent in the monotherapy than in the triple therapy group (1.4% vs 11.1%, respectively; P = .046). Cesarean delivery and preterm delivery rates did not differ. All children were liveborn; 1 case of HIV-1 transmission occurred in the triple therapy group, none in the monotherapy group (95% CI upper limit = 5.2%). Conclusions. LPV/r monotherapy achieved satisfactory virologic efficacy in women treated solely for PMTCT, providing proof of concept for future nucleoside-sparing strategies. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00424814; Afssaps AIDS Clinical Trial Group A61176-34.

Background. Management of pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 infection remains unclear because of its low prevalence and important differences from HIV-1. Methods. Pregnant women monoinfected with HIV-2 or HIV-1 and their infants enrolled in the prospective, national, multicenter French Perinatal Cohort between 1986 and 2007. Results. Overall, 2.6% (223/8660) of mothers were infected with HIV-2, and they accounted for 3.1% (367/11841) of the total births. Most were born in sub-Saharan Africa. A higher proportion of HIV-2-infected mothers than HIV-1-infected mothers had no symptoms, had received no antiretroviral threrapy at conception (85.9% vs 66.7%), and had received no antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy (42.8% vs 19.9%), particularly highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (79.7% vs 46.1%), and they had higher CD4 cell counts near delivery (median, 574 vs 452 cells/mm3; P < .01). If antiretroviral therapy was used, it was started at a later gestational age for HIV-2-infected mothers (median, 28 vs 25 weeks; P < .01). HIV-2-infected mothers were more likely to deliver vaginally (67.9% vs 49.3%) and to breastfeed (3.6% vs 0.6%; P < .01), and their infants less frequently received postexposure prophylaxis. In the period 2000–2007, the proportion with viral load <100 copies/mL at delivery was 90.5% of HIV-2-infected mothers, compared with 76.2% of HIV-1-infected mothers (P = .1). There were 2 cases of transmission: 1 case in 1993 occurred following maternal primary infection, and the other case occurred postnatally in 2002 and involved a mother with severe immune deficiency. The mother-to-child transmission rate for HIV-2 was 0.6% (95% confidence interval, 0.07%–2.2%). Conclusions. Care for HIV-2-infected pregnant women rests on expert opinion. The mother-to-child transmission residual rate (0.07%–2.2%) argues for systematic treatment: protease inhibitor-based HAART for women requiring antiretroviral therapy or for primary infection and simplified prevention of mother-to-child transmission in other instances.

The interleukin (IL)-4 -589T allele bears a single nucleotide polymorphism at position -589 upstream from the open-reading frame of the IL-4 gene. To determine the influence of this allele on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 disease, disease progression and serum virus load were assessed by IL-4 genotype in 427 white patients with known seroconversion dates who were followed in the French SEROCO cohort between 1988 and 1996. Serum virus load was 0.20 log lower during the 6-24-month plateau phase after seroconversion in patients with IL-4 -589T than in those without this allele (P = .02). Kaplan-Meier analysis survival curves showed a slower progression to clinical AIDS in carriers of IL-4 -589T (P = .04). Adjustment for early serum virus load greatly diminished the strength of this association. These results suggest that IL-4 -589T protects against HIV-1 disease progression by reducing virus load.

We compared use of a 3-class regimen (nevirapine [Nvp], stavudine [d4T], and indinavir [Idv; 1000 mg 3 times daily]) with use of a 2-class regimen (lamivudine [3TC], d4T, and Idv [800 mg 3 times daily]) for 145 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). At week 72, the plasma HIV-1 RNA level was undetectable in 52% of Nvp recipients versus 79% of 3TC recipients (P < .001). Idv trough levels were 81 ng/mL in the Nvp group and 99 ng/mL in the 3TC group (P = .012). In the Nvp group, 42.5% of patients discontinued the study regimen; in the 3TC group, 22.5% of patients discontinued therapy (P = .013). The rate of resistance to nonnucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitors among patients in the Nvp group with virological failure was not different from the rate of resistance to 3TC among patients in the 3TC group with virological failure. These results do not support the use of a 3-class regimen that includes Nvp for patients with no or limited exposure to nucleoside analogues.

Virus load in pregnancy and its relation to mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission were studied prospectively. From 1989 to 1994, 320 HIV-infected women from 18 centers had plasma samples stored. Among women not receiving antiretroviral therapy, the polymerase chain reaction RNA level was 3.6 log at delivery, and 15% of women had levels below the detection limit. There was no variation during pregnancy. Women born in sub-Saharan Africa had lower RNA levels, although their CD4 cell distribution did not differ from that in other women. Among 236 evaluable children, 19% +/- 5% were infected. Transmission occurred in 12% of cases (confidence interval, 5%-22%) with <1000 copies/mL versus 29% +/- 10% of those with >10,000 copies/mL (P < .02). Maternal virus load appears strongly related to HIV transmission to the child.