Opportunistic infections in patients with aids admitted to an university hospital of the Southeast of Brazil

Opportunistic diseases in HIV-infected patients have changed since the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). This study aims at evaluating the frequency of associated diseases in patients with AIDS admitted to an university hospital of Brazil, before and after HAART. The medical records of 342 HIV-infected patients were reviewed and divided into two groups: group 1 comprised 247 patients before HAART and, group 2, 95 patients after HAART. The male-to-female rate dropped from 5:1 to 2:1for HIV infection. There was an increase in the prevalence of tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis, with a decrease in Kaposi's sarcoma, histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. A reduction of in-hospital mortality (42.0 percent vs. 16.9 percent; p = 0.00002) has also occurred. An agreement between the main clinical diagnoses and autopsy findings was observed in 10 out of 20 cases (50 percent). Two patients with disseminated schistosomiasis and 2 with paracoccidioidomycosis are reported. Overall, except for cerebral toxoplasmosis, it has been noticed a smaller proportion of opportunistic conditions related to severe immunosuppression in the post HAART group. There was also a significant reduction in the in-hospital mortality, possibly reflecting improvement in the treatment of the HIV infection

Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in field-based studies: a combined clinical and sonographic definition

A combined clinical and sonographic classification of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni to be used in field-based studies is proposed herein. Seven hundred forty one individuals out of 892 (83 percent), living in an area endemic for schistosomiasis in Brazil, have been ubmitted to clinical and ultrasound examinations. Based on two stool examinations the overall prevalence for schistosomiasis in this area was 73 percent. Abdominal palpation was performed with patients in dorsal decubit, during deep breath, by two experienced physicians and a portable ultrasound was used for the evaluation of liver fibrosis, portal collaterals and spleen size. Four groups of individuals were identified using data obtained by abdominal palpation and ultrasound examination: (1) palpable spleen and intense periportal thickening in 9 individuals (1.2 percent); (2) spleen not palpable and intense periportal thickening in 15 (2 percent); (3) palpable spleen with light to moderate periportal thickening in 32 (4.3 percent), and (4) palpable spleen with a normal liver on ultrasound in 30 (4 percent). The definition of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis in field-based studies as the finding of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in the stools in an individual with splenomegaly is not acceptable anymore. Abdominal ultrasound should be combined with clinical examination to accurately identify hepatosplenics in endemic areas for schistosomiasis

Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy due to Schistosoma mansoni: report on 23 cases

Schistosoma mansoni infection is likely to be responsible for a significant proportion of cases of myelopathy occurring in areas where schistosomiasis is endemic. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical, laboratory and therapeutic data of 23 patients with schistosomal myeloradiculopathy. The medical records of 23 patients with schistosomal myelopathy admitted to two general hospitals of Belo Horizonte (MG), in Brazil, from 1995 to 1999, were reviewed retrospectively. Seventeen patients were male (74 percent). The mean age for the whole group was 27 years. Lower limb weakness and associated lumbar and/or lower limb pain were reported by 20 patients (87 percent), and 16 (70 percent) were unable to walk. All individuals presented urinary retention and 19 (83 percent) complained of intestinal dysfunction. The treatment was based on the association of antischistosomal drugs and corticosteroids. Five patients (22 percent) presented a full response to treatment, 13 (57 percent) partial response without functional limitations and 4 (17 percent) partial improvement with limitations or no response. Three out of the 4 patients who stopped steroids before 45 days of treatment developed recurrence of the symptoms and signs of myelopathy. Our cases demonstrate the severe presentation of the disease and the data disclosed here suggest that treatment with steroids should be kept for months after clinical improvement

Pyogenic abscesses and parasitic diseases

Parasitic diseases which during their course in the host switch the immune system from a T helper 1 to a T helper 2 response may be detrimental to the host, contributing to granuloma formation, eosinophilia, hyper-IgE, and increased susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections. Patients and animals with acute schistosomiasis and hyper-IgE in their serum develop pyogenic liver abscess in the presence of bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The Salmonella-S. mansoni association has also been well documented. The association of tropical pyomyositis (pyogenic muscle abscess) and pyogenic liver abscess with Toxocara infection has recently been described in the same context. In tropical countries that may be an interesting explanation for the great morbidity of bacterial diseases. If the association of parasitic infections and pyogenic abscesses and/or fungal diseases are confirmed, there will be a strong case in favor of universal treatment for parasitic diseases to prevent or decrease the morbidity of superinfection with bacteria and fungi

Dengue: uma nova abordagem / Dengue: a reappraisal

Os conceitos de dengue clássico, com ou sem hemorragia, e da febre hemorrágica do dengue (FHD) que, pode cursar sem fenômenos hemorrágicos, com ou sem síndrome do choque do dengue (SCD) säo revistos neste artigo. As definiçöes clássicas propostas, úteis em outros tempos, geram confusäo e dificultam a tomada de decisöes no momento do tratamento dos pacientes com as formas graves da doença porque deixaram de incorporar novos conceitos e avanços terapêuticos. A classificaçäo do dengue proposta neste trabalho, e apresentada em fluxograma, incorpora os conceitos atuais de sepse, síndrome da resposta inflamatória sistêmica (SIRS) e síndrome da angústia respiratória do adulto (SARA). A nova classificaçäo serve de guia para orientar a conduta terapêutica inicial e aproxima o tratamento do dengue aos protocolos e rotinas já implantados nos diversos centros hospitalares de urgência, facilitando a atuaçäo dos serviços de saúde em situaçöes de surtos epidêmicos

A associaçäo entre a toxocaríase humana e os abscessos piogênicos / The association of human toxocariasis and pyogenic abscesses

A associaçäo entre o abscesso hepático e a esquistosomose mansônica foi confirmada por estudos clínicos e experimentais. Outros parasitos, como a larva de Toxocara canis, podem causar alteraçöes imunológicas sistêmicas e estruturais nos órgaos acometidos que favorecem a instalaçäo e o crescimento da bactéria. A piomiosite tropical, o abscesso hepático piogênico e o abscesso renal säo doenças freqüentes nos países tropicais e muitas vezes näo se encontra doença de base que poderia explicá-las. A síndrome de larva migrans visceral é causada pela presença no organismo humano de larvas de vermes que têm outros animais como hospedeiro definitivo sendo a T. canis o agente mais comum. As larvas migram por vários órgäos causando reaçäo inflamatória na forma de granuloma com necrose tecidual. Nesta revisäo discutem-se os possíveis mecanismos de interaçäo entre o hospedeiro, o parasito e a bactéria que podem favorecer a formaçäo de abscessos nos órgäos acometidos pela larva de T. canis e resumem-se alguns resultados preliminares de trabalho clínico-experimental realizado durante os últimos quatro anos para definir o papel deste parasito na patogenia dos abscessos

Fever of undetermined origin in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Brazil: report on 55 cases

The medical records of patients with AIDS admitted to a general hospital in Brazil from 1989 to 1997 were reviewed retrospectively with the aim at defining the frequency and etiology of fever of undetermined origin (FUO) in HIV-infected patients of a tropical country and to evaluate the usefulness of the main diagnostic procedures. 188 (58.4 percent) out of 322 patients reported fever at admission to hospital and 55 (17.1 percent) had FUO. Those with FUO had a mean CD4+ cell count of 98/ml. A cause of fever was identified for 45 patients (81.8 percent). Tuberculosis (32.7 percent), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (10.9 percent), and Mycobacterium avium complex (9.1 percent) were the most frequent diagnoses. Other infectious diseases are also of note, such as cryptococcal meningitis (5.5 percent), sinusitis (3.6 percent), Salmonella-S. mansoni association (3.6 percent), disseminated histoplasmosis (3.6 percent), neurosyphilis (1.8 percent), and isosporiasis (1.8 percent). Four patients had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (7.3 percent). We conclude that an initial aggressive diagnostic approach should be always considered because biopsies (lymph node, liver and bone marrow) produced the highest yield in the diagnosis of FUO and the majority of the diagnosed diseases are treatable. The association of diseases is common and have contributed to delay the final diagnosis of FUO in most cases. In our study area the routine request of hemocultures for Salmonella infection and the investigation of cryptococcal antigen in the serum should be considered.

Visceral larva migrans and tropical pyomyositis: a case report

Os autores relatam o caso de um jovem com piomiosite tropical grave, eosinofilia e hiperimunoglobulinemia E. O paciente relatou historia de contato com um cao e o teste de ELISA para Toxocara canis revelou-se positivo. O Staphylococcus aureus foi a unica bacteria isolada da secrecao purulenta obtida dos abscessos musculares. Sugere-se que a piomiosite tropical possa ser iniciada pela presenca das larvas desse ou de outros parasitos com tropismo para os musculos. As alteracoes imunologicas e estruturais nos musculos acometidos pelas larvas e a presenca de bacteriemia podem favorecer a instalacao da bacteria e o desenvolvimento da piomiosite

Schistosomiasis and associated infections

In hospital-based series viral hepatitis B has been frequently described in association with schistosomiasis whilst in field-based studies the association has not been confirmed. The association between schistosomiasis and Salmonella bacteraemia has been well documented. More recently, acute schistosomiasis has been shown to be a facilitating factor in the genesis of pyogenic liver abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus. New evidences indicate an interaction between the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and schistosomiasis. In this paper, data on the association of schistosomiasis with other infections are updated.

Splenic palpation for the evalution of morbidity due to schistosomiasis mansoni

This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of splenic palpation for the diagnosis of splenomegaly, and to determine whether the frequency of individuals with a palpable spleen in an endemic area can be considered as an index of morbidity of schistosomiasis. For the clinical diagnosis of splenomegaly, two criteria have been tested: (A) presence of a palpable spleen and (B) presence of a palpable spleen whose border could be felt more than 4 cm below the costal margin. In an area of high prevalence of the disease (66.3 per cent) 285 individuals aged 18 years or more have been submitted to abdominal ultrasonography and physical examination. Splenomegaly was defined as a splenic lengh greater than 120 mm by ultrasound and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of criterion A were 72.2 per cent, 90.5 per cent, 35.1 per cent and 97.8 per cent. The values for criterium B were 27.8 per cent, 98 per cent, 50 per cent and 95 per cent, respectively. In an non endemic area, 517 individuals were submitted to the same protocol and 22 individuals had a palpable spleen, but no patient fulfilled criterium B for splenomegaly, and only one met the ultrasonographic criterium for splenomegaly. The authors concluded that abdominal palpable is a poor method for the diagnosis of splenomegaly.

Chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen in an endemic area for shistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil

Data on the association of schistosomiasis and hepatitis B in field-based studies are scarce. Two areas have been selected for this study: i) Queixadinha, endemic for shistosomiasis, with a population of 693 individuals, and ii) Capäo, a control non-endemic area, with 515 inhabitants. Sera of all individuals in both areas were tested for hepatitis B infection, yearly, from 1994 to 1997. In the first area hepatitis B was found in 32.1 per cent of children up to one year old and reached a peak of 68.7 per cent in the age range of 15 to 19 years. In the control area the prevalence of hepatitis B was under 5 per cent up to 19 years of age and the highest prevalence was observed in adults over 45. HBsAg was detected in 9.4 per cent of the individuals living in the endemic area for shistosomiasis and in 1.4 per cent of the controls (OR=4.98; 95 per centCI=3.7-6.7). The index of chronicity of HBsAg was not statistically different in the studied areas (8.1 per cent x 7.3 per cent; OR=1.09; 95 per cent CI=0.42-3.03) nor was it different for people with and without schistosomiasis in Queixadinha (8.7 per cent x 7.0 per cent). We conclude that the Schistosoma mansoni infection has not altered the course of hepatitis B in the studied area.

Salmonella-S. mansoni association in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Apresentam-se os casos de dois jovens com bacteriemia por Salmonella associada a esquistossomose mansoni ativa em pacientes com a sindrome da imunodeficiencia adquirida. A apresentacao clinica incluiu sintomas e sinais inespecificos como fadiga, perda de peso, diarreia, febre prolongada e hepatoesplenomegalia. A biopsia hepatica em um paciente revelou granulomas mal formados em torno de ovos de S. mansoni e hepatite de intensidade moderada. O tratamento da esquistossomose com a oxamniquine induziu melhora clinica progressiva culminando com a cura da salmonelose e da esquistossomose. O reconhecimento da associacao Salmonella-S. mansoni em pacientes com AIDS mostra-se importante nesses casos pois o tratamento da esquistossomose melhora o prognostico da bacteriemia por Salmonella que pode tornar-se recorrente e fatal nos pacientes com AIDS

O emprego de psicoestimulantes no adulto / The use of psychostimulant agents in adults

Os psicoestimulantes vêm sendo empregados como potencializadores de drogas antidepressivas no tratamento de transtornos do humor refratários. Mesmo nao associados a antidepressivos, os estimulantes sao considerados úteis no paciente deprimido portador de doença física e no idoso deprimido apático, nos quais os antidepressivos encontram obstáculos, especialmente efeitos colaterais e longa latência para o início da açao terapêutica. Sao particularmente interessantes para o paciente deprimido portador de doença física crônica terminal, como a AIDS e o câncer, e para o deprimido portador de lesao encefálica residual. No transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade residual do adulto, os psicoestimulantes sao indicados. Pacientes com transtornos do humor relacionados ao complexo demencial da AIDS também parecem beneficiar-se de terapêutica com psicoestimulante. Em casos da síndrome de fadiga crônica, psicoestimulantes também têm sido considerados úteis

O Projeto Queixadinha: a morbidade e o controle da esquistossomose em área endêmica no nordeste de Minas Gerais, Brasil / Queixadinha project: morbidity and control of schistosomiasis in an endemic area in the northeast of State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

In an endemic area for schistosomiasis in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil 516 individuals have been submitted to clinical and laboratory examination, ultrasonography of the abdomen and dopplerecocardiography in order to define the morbidity of schistosomiasis before and after treatment. A high prevalence of schistosomiasis (66.3 per cent) and of severe disease (9.5per cent with palpable spleens) were recorded. Ultrasonography classified liver periportal fibrosis as light (19.4 per cent), moderate (27.6 per cent) and intense (6.8 per cent), and 46.0 per cent presented no periportal fibrosis. Twenty one out of the 53 individuals (39.6 per cent) with palpable spleens did not present liver fibrosis on ultrasound. Periportal lymph nodes were described in 33.8 per cent of the population and anti-KLH antibodies were found in the serum of 40.7 per cent. Urinary alterations compatible with the glomerulopathy of schistosomiasis were observed in 4.5 per cent of the population, and 11.7 per cent of the individuals examined by dopplerecocardiography had pulmonary hypertension. Twelve months after treatment for schistosomiasis the prevalence of the disease dropped from 66.3 per cent to 25.0 per cent. In Queixadinha, a profile of the morbidity of schistosomiasis has just been established.