ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: People living with HIV (PLWH) are more susceptible to acquiring and having serious consequences from COVID-19. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between COVID-19 infection and other risk factors in these patients. METHODS: This is a descriptive-analytical study recruiting 160 PLWH referred to the Behavioral Disease Counselling Centre of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran in 2021. The patients were selected through convenient sampling. A checklist was used to collect the necessary data. Descriptive statistical tests, such as mean and standard deviation, were employed alongside inferential statistics, including chi-square, Fisher, independent t-tests, and logistic regression, all evaluated at a significance level of p<0.05 using the R software. RESULTS: The patients' average age was 43.15 ± 11.23. Forty-four women and 116 men were present. A notable association was observed between the incidence of COVID-19 and variables such as hepatitis C and the duration of time since HIV diagnosis (p<0.001). Moreover, a strong correlation was found between the amount of COVID-19 vaccination doses given to patients and their probability of acquiring the disease. The first vaccination dose was linked to a 5.45 percent increase in COVID-19 incidence in patients, whereas the second and third doses (t=2.95, t=7.57) reduced the risk of getting COVID-19. Furthermore, no discernible link (p>0.05) was found between the use of various antiretroviral medications and COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSION: This study finds that vaccine type doesn't impact COVID-19 outcomes in HIV-positive patients, but receiving more doses decreases the probability of occurrence of COVID-19, advocating for multiple vaccinations. However, PLWH, especially those non-compliant with antiretrovirals, need strict adherence to health protocols due to heightened vulnerability to viral illnesses.
ABSTRACT
Amphotericin B deoxycholate (ABD) is the best therapeutic agent available for the treatment of most systemic fungal infections. However, some untoward adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity may limit its appropriate therapeutic use. We conducted a randomized, controlled trial ofthe infusion of fat emulsion (Intralipid) shortly after the infusion of ABD to evaluate its effects on reducing ABD-associated nephrotoxicity. Our patient population was made up of 31 patients who were randomized into two groups: an intervention group (n = 16) and a control group (15 patients). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in demographic or clinical variables. All patients received 1mg/kg/day of ABD in dextrose 5%. In addition, the patients in the intervention arm received Intralipid 10%, which was started as soon as possible within 1 hour after the infusion of ABD. ABD-associated nephrotoxicity was defined as a minimum 50% increase in baseline serum creatinine to a minimum of 2mg/dl. We also measured daily serum creatinine changes during the first 2 weeks of treatment, and we compared some other relevant indices of renal function, as well as ABD-related hypokalemia. We found no statistically significant differences between the two treatments in terms of ABD-associated nephrotoxicity or any of the other indices. We conclude that the administration of Intralipid 10% early after infusion of ABD in dextrose 5% does not have any effect in decreasing ABD-associated nephrotoxicity or hypokalemia.
