HIV acute infection and long-term undisclosed HIV status among blood donors from the highly endemic Amazonas state, located in the Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT Background: The Amazonas state/AM and Manaus rank among the highest AIDS detection rates in Brazil. High proportion of HIV infected blood donors and transmission clusters of multidrug antiretroviral/ARV resistant viruses were described in HEMOAM blood donors, a main Amazonas public blood bank. Recent and long-term infections among previously genotyped donors are reported. Methods/materials: The recency immunoassay Lag Avidity EIA (Maxim, USA) was employed. Clinical/CD4/viral load medical file data of the main local HIV management center (FMTHVD) and ARV treatment/ART data were reviewed. Results: Among 142 HIV-blood donors, chronic infection predominated (n = 87; 61.3 %), 79 based on LAg EIA and 8 undisclosed HIV identified in FMT-HVD records, mostly young adult, single males, 4 repeat donors, all ART-naive. Recent infections represented 30.3 % (n = 43),39 identified by LAg EIA and 4 immunologic windows (antibody negative/NAT/RNA positive). The overall profile of recent and long-term infections was similar, including moderate rate of transmitted drug resistance/TDR, however with multiple resistance mutations to more than one ARV-class, suggesting ART/failure. Discussion: Recent/acute and undisclosed/long-term HIV infections represent blood safety alerts suggesting test-seeking behavior of at-risk populations. Early ART use in Brazil, can turn HIV diagnosis more challenging representing a blood transfusion risk in the highly endemic Brazilian Amazon.

Perfil epidemiológico de pacientes com Hemofilia A e doenças associadas ao uso do fator VIII/recombinante / Epidemiological profile of patients with Hemophilia A and diseases associated with the use of factor VIII/recombinant

Introdução: o Brasil é o quarto país em casos de Hemofilia A. O tratamento é infundir o fator de coagulação ausente. Reações ao uso do fator podem incluir manifestações alérgicas, doenças virais transfusionais e aloanticorpos. Objetivo: analisar o perfil epidemiológico de pacientes com Hemofilia A, e as doenças associadas ao uso do fator VIII e fator VIII recombinante. Metodologia: estudo transversal descritivo e retrospectivo. A coleta de dados foi realizada nos prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico de hemofilia A, preenchidos com mais de 70% das informações, na Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas, Brasil. Resultados: o Ministério da Saúde identificou no Estado do Amazonas, o registro de 276 indivíduos com diagnóstico de Hemofilia A. Incluídos para análise neste estudo 164 prontuários. Características sociodemográficas: homens 99,4%, adolescentes (28%) e jovens (26,8%); de cor parda 67,1%, ensino fundamental incompleto 28,6% e, exercendo a ocupação de estudante 42,7%. Condição clínica: 36,6% classificados com hemofilia A grave. Todos os pacientes tiveram diagnóstico clínico e laboratorial. O parentesco mais comum é o de irmãos com 35,3%. Sintomas predominantes: hemartrose 45,4%; dor 31,9%; edema 24% e artropatia 8,5%. O fator VIII recombinante, administrado em 34,8% dos pacientes, enquanto o fator VIII plasmático em 28,0%. Administrados doses de 2000UI a 2999UI. As complicações: artralgia 77,4% e hemorragia 77,4%. Conclusão: cuidados qualificados dos profissionais de saúde auxiliam na prevenção de complicações sérias, resultando em qualidade de vida ao hemofílico.

Introduction: Brazil is the fourth country in cases of Hemophilia A. The treatment is to infuse the missing clotting factor. Reactions to the use of the factor can include, allergic manifestations, transfusion viral diseases and alloantibodies. Objective: analyze the epidemiological profile of patients with Hemophilia A, and the diseases associated with the use of factor VIII and recombinant factor VIII. Methodology: descriptive and retrospective cross-sectional study. Data collection was carried out in the medical records of patients diagnosed with hemophilia A, filled with more than 70% of the information, at the Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas, Brazil. Results: in the Ministry of Health of Brazil, it was identified, for the State from Amazonas, the registry of 276 individuals diagnosed with Hemophilia A. Included in the analysis for this study, 164 medical records. Sociodemographic characteristics: male, 99.4%, adolescents (28%) and young people (26.8%), brown skin color, 67.1%, incomplete elementary school, 28.6%, and working as a student, 42.7%. Clinical condition: 36.6% classified with severe hemophilia A. All patients had a clinical and laboratory diagnosis. The most common kinship is that of brothers, 35.3%. Predominant symptoms: hemarthrosis 45.4%, pain 31.9%, edema 24% and arthropathy 8.5%. Recombinant factor VIII, administered in 34.8% of patients, while plasma factor VIII in 28.0%. Doses of 2000 IU to 2999 IU were administered. Complications: arthralgia 77.4% and hemorrhage 77.4%. Conclusion: qualified care by health professionals helps to prevent serious complications, resulting in quality of life for the hemophiliac.

HIV-1 genetic diversity and drug resistance mutations in the northern Brazilian region

ABSTRACT Brazil is a huge continental country with striking geographic differences which are well illustrated in the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Contrasting with the significant decline in the national AIDS detection rate in the last decade, a linear growth has been reported in the Northern region. Despite its public health and epidemiologic importance, there is scarce HIV-1 molecular data from Northern Brazil. This scoping review summarizes recent epidemiologic data with special emphasis on HIV-1 genetic diversity and antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in patients from the seven Northern states of Brazil. Studies from the Northern Brazil on different HIV-1 genomic regions, mostly pol (protease/reverse transcriptase) sequences of naïve/antiretroviral treated adults/children were retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE electronic database. These studies indicate a consistent molecular profile largely dominated by HIV-1 subtype B with minor contribution of subtypes F1 and C and infrequent detection of other subtypes (A1, D, K), recombinants (BF1, BC), circulating recombinant forms (CRF) as the new CRF90_BF1 and CRF02_AG-like, CRF28-29_BF-like, CRF31_BC-like, and a potential new CRF_BF1. This pattern indicates a founder effect of subtype B and the introduction of non-B-subtypes and recombinants probably generated in the Southern/Southeastern regions. In naïve populations transmitted drug resistance (TDR) can impact the outcome of first-line antiretroviral treatment and prophylactic/preventive regimens. In the Northern region TDR rates are moderate while patients failing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) showed high prevalence of acquired drug resistance mutations. The limited HIV-1 molecular data from Northern Brazil reflects the great challenges to generate comprehensive scientific data in isolated, underprivileged areas. It also highlights the need to invest in local capacity building which supported by adequate infrastructure and funding can promote robust research activities to help reduce the scientific asymmetries in the Northern region. Currently the impacts of the overwhelming COVID-19 pandemic on the expanding HIV/AIDS epidemic in Northern Brazil deserves to be closely monitored.