Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients

We described two cases of treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients who presented with cytomegalovirus uveitis and Cryptococcus neoformans adenitis as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) during salvage treatment. Little is known about IRIS in highly experienced patients, and this report suggests that IRIS should be considered in this setting if there is a favorable response to salvage therapy

Identifying risk factors of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in AIDS patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy

Immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome typically occurs within days after patients undergo highly active anti-retroviral therapy and is a big hurdle for effective treatment of AIDS patients. In this study, we monitored immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome occurrence in 238 AIDS patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy. Among them, immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome occurred in 47 cases (19.7%). Immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome patients had significantly higher rate of opportunistic infection (p < 0.001) and persistently lower CD4+ cell count (p < 0.001) compared to the non-immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome patients. In contrast, no significant differences in HIV RNA loads were observed between the immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome group and non-immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome group. These data suggest that a history of opportunistic infection and CD4+ cell counts at baseline may function as risk factors for immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome occurrence in AIDS patients as well as potential prognostic markers. These findings will improve the management of AIDS with highly active anti-retroviral therapy.

Diagnosis & treatment of tuberculosis in HIV co-infected patients.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health challenge, with an estimated 1.4 million patients worldwide. Co-infection with HIV leads to challenges in both the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. Further, there has been an increase in rates of drug resistant tuberculosis, including multi-drug (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant TB (XDRTB), which are difficult to treat and contribute to increased mortality. Because of the poor performance of sputum smear microscopy in HIV-infected patients, newer diagnostic tests are urgently required that are not only sensitive and specific but easy to use in remote and resource-constrained settings. The treatment of co-infected patients requires antituberculosis and antiretroviral drugs to be administered concomitantly; challenges include pill burden and patient compliance, drug interactions, overlapping toxic effects, and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Also important questions about the duration and schedule of anti-TB drug regimens and timing of antiretroviral therapy remain unanswered. From a programmatic point of view, screening of all HIV-infected persons for TB and viceversa requires good co-ordination and communication between the TB and AIDS control programmes. Linkage of co-infected patients to antiretroviral treatment centres is critical if early mortality is to be prevented. We present here an overview of existing diagnostic strategies, new tests in the pipeline and recommendations for treatment of patients with HIV-TB dual infection.

A study of TB-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome using the consensus case-definition.

Background & objectives: A considerable proportion of patients with HIV associated tuberculosis (TB) started on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) develop immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), which is difficult to diagnose in a resource-limited setting. In view of the recently proposed consensus case-definitions for TB-IRIS for use in resource-limited settings we undertook this study to describe the incidence and risk factors of TB associated IRIS in a tertiary care hospital and research centre in north India. Methods: Retrospective analysis of antiretroviral treatment (ART) naïve adults started on highly active ART (HAART) from June 2006 to September 2008 was done. Results: Of the 627 patients studied, 237 (38%) had TB at the initiation of HAART. In total, 18 (7.5%) of 237 patients with TB at baseline had paradoxical TB-associated IRIS, and 12 (3%) of 390 patients without TB at baseline developed ART-associated TB. Most IRIS events occurred during the initial 30 days of HAART. Two patients developed TB-associated IRIS after 90 days of HAART. Using univariate analysis, low CD4+ cell count at baseline [64 (28-89) vs. 95 (52-150); P=0.009] and early initiation of HAART [33 (24-41) vs. 48 (35-61) days; P<0.001] were significantly associated with paradoxical TB-associated IRIS. No identifiable risk factors were associated with the development of ART-associated TB. Interpretation & conclusions: A considerable proportion of patients on HAART develop TB-associated IRIS. The consensus case-definition is a useful tool in resource-limited settings for the diagnosis of TB-associated IRIS.

Bacille Calmette-Guérin lymphadenitis and immune reconstitution syndrome in HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy in Jamaica / Linfadenitis por Calmette-Guérin y síndrome de reconstitución inmune en niños infectados con el VIH bajo terapia antiretroviral en Jamaica

The immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a recognized complication associated with opportunistic infections occurring in HIV-infected individuals after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We report on three HIV-infected infants with rapid progressor HIV disease who present with IRIS due to the BCG vaccine and occurring 3-6 weeks after initiation of HAART.

El síndrome inflamatorio de la reconstitución inmune (SIRI) es una complicación reconocida asociada con infecciones oportunistas que ocurren en individuos infectados por el VIH, luego de su iniciación en la terapia antiretroviral altamente activa (TARAA). Se reporta el caso de tres infantes infectados por VIH con enfermedad VIH de progresión rápida, que se presentan con SIRI debido a la vacuna BCG, 3-6 semanas después de la iniciación de TARAA.