Can presence of HLA type I and II alleles be associated with clinical spectrum of CHIKV infection?

Host immune response and virulence factors are key to disease susceptibility. However, there are no known association studies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II alleles with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in the Latin American population. Here, we aimed to identify HLA alleles present in patients with CHIKV infection versus healthy controls as well as the allelic association with the clinical spectrum of the disease. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a community cohort and included patients aged 18 years and older with serologically confirmed CHIKV infection. HLA typing of HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 alleles was performed. Two-by-two tables were used to establish associations between allele presence and clinical characteristics. Data from 65 patients with confirmed CHIKV infection were analyzed for HLA typing. CHIKV infection was significantly associated with the presence of HLA-A*68 [p = .005; odds ratio (OR): 8.90; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.88-42.13], HLA-B*35 (p = .03; OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.06-3.86), HLA-DRB*01 (p <.001; OR: 5.70; 95% CI: 1.95-16.59), HLA-DRB1*04 (p <.001; OR: 7.37; 95% CI: 3.33-16.30), and HLA-DRB1*13 (p = .004; OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.50-9.39) alleles in patients versus healthy subjects. A statistically significant relationship was found between the presence of a rash on the face or abdomen and the presence of HLA-DRB1*04 (p = .028; OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.11-9.15 and p = .007; OR: 4.33; 95% CI: 1.45-12.88, respectively). Our study demonstrated that, in our cohort, HLA type I and type II alleles are associated with CHIKV infection, and an HLA type II allele is associated with dermatological symptoms. Further research is needed to establish a path for future investigation of genes outside the HLA system to improve knowledge of the pathophysiology of CHIKV infection and its host-pathogen interaction.

Nefropatía por tóxicos: la cocaína y su potente daño renal / Toxic nephropathy: cocaine and its potent kidney damage

Resumen El consumo de sustancias ilícitas en menores de 16 años y en adultos jóvenes se incrementa cada día en Colombia, por lo cual se presentan complicaciones asociadas que sería inusual encontrar en este grupo poblacional. El presente reporte de caso muestra cómo el uso de cocaína llevó a un paciente joven a desarrollar daño renal agudo con requerimiento de terapia de reemplazo renal, lo que en los hallazgos histológicos puede corresponder a una glomerulonefritis rápidamente progresiva o a una enfermedad tubulointersticial tipo necrosis tubular aguda o nefritis intersticial aguda.

Abstract In Colombia, the consumption of illicit substances increases daily. The increase and related consumption in the population involves both young people under 16 and young adults. Therefore, there are complications associated with the consumption of these substances that otherwise, would be unusual to find in this population group. In this case report, we will review how the use of cocaine led a young patient to the development acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy, which in the histological findings may correspond to rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, or tubulointerstitial disease either acute renal tubular necrosis or acute interstitial nephritis.