INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic disseminated infection, considered to be the third most frequent opportunistic parasitic infection in Europe. It is especially prevalent in patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, in whom it poses a great therapeutic challenge due to increased risk of relapse. The goal of this study is to characterize a population of co-infected patients, as well as the efficiency of the adopted treatment strategies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study with a sample composed of all patients with visceral leishmaniasis and human immunodeficiency virus admitted in an Infectious Diseases ward over a period of 10 years. RESULTS: Of the 23 enrolled patients, two were female (8.7%). The mean TCD4+ cell count was 104.4 cells/uL (± 120.3cells/uL), only two patients had undetectable viral load (< 20 copies/mL) and 16 (69.6%) were not under antiretroviral therapy at the time of diagnosis. Treatment-wise, liposomal amphotericin B was used in 18 patients, meglumine antimoniate in four and miltefosine in one. Fourteen (60.9%) were adherent to secondary prophylaxis protocol. A relapse rate of 26.1% was observed (six patients). DISCUSSION: Co-infection is responsible for higher treatment failure rates and more relapses. TCD4+ cell count is the main predictive factor of relapse, and strict adherence to chemoprophylaxis protocols unequivocally results in a reduction of relapse rate. Combined treatment strategies using liposomal amphotericin B and miltefosine yield fewer therapeutic failures than the classic approach. CONCLUSION: We therefore conclude that alternative, combined therapeutic protocols seem to be a viable solution for these patients.
INTRODUCTION:Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic disseminated infection, considered to be the third most frequent opportunistic parasitic infection in Europe. It is especially prevalent in patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, in whom it poses a great therapeutic challenge due to increased risk of relapse. The goal of this study is to characterize a population of co-infected patients, as well as the efficiency of the adopted treatment strategies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study with a sample composed of all patients with visceral leishmaniasis and human immunodeficiency virus admitted in an Infectious Diseases ward over a period of 10 years. RESULTS: Of the 23 enrolled patients, two were female (8.7%). The mean TCD4+ cell count was 104.4 cells/uL (± 120.3cells/uL), only two patients had undetectable viral load (< 20 copies/mL) and 16 (69.6%) were not under antiretroviral therapy at the time of diagnosis. Treatment-wise, liposomal amphotericin B was used in 18 patients, meglumine antimoniate in four and miltefosine in one. Fourteen (60.9%) were adherent to secondary prophylaxis protocol. A relapse rate of 26.1% was observed (six patients). DISCUSSION: Co-infection is responsible for higher treatment failure rates and more relapses. TCD4+ cell count is the main predictive factor of relapse, and strict adherence to chemoprophylaxis protocols unequivocally results in a reduction of relapse rate. Combined treatment strategies using liposomal amphotericin B and miltefosine yield fewer therapeutic failures than the classic approach. CONCLUSION: We therefore conclude that alternative, combined therapeutic protocols seem to be a viable solution for these patients.
Entities:
Keywords:
HIV Infections; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Recurrence; Treatment Failure
Authors: Nathalia C Galvani; Amanda S Machado; Daniela P Lage; Camila S Freitas; Danniele L Vale; Daysiane de Oliveira; Fernanda Ludolf; Fernanda F Ramos; Bruna B Fernandes; Gabriel P Luiz; Débora V C Mendonça; João A Oliveira-da-Silva; Thiago A R Reis; Grasiele S V Tavares; Ana T Chaves; Nathalia S Guimarães; Unaí Tupinambás; Gláucia F Cota; Maria V Humbert; Vívian T Martins; Myron Christodoulides; Eduardo A F Coelho; Ricardo A Machado-de-Ávila Journal: Parasitol Res Date: 2021-10-19 Impact factor: 2.289