Valproic acid could help in the fight against COVID-19: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: There is early evidence about Valproic acid (VPA) antiviral effect. Our aim was to investigate the incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in VPA users as compared with the general population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A case-control study nested within a cohort, carried out between March 1 and December 17, 2020. Retrospectively, we identified confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection patients exposed to VPA in our health department (defined as case). We ascertained VPA regimen (all the time (AT) (292 days) or at least 20% of the study period (notAT) (≥58 days) and if VPA levels were in therapeutic range (ATR) (50-100mcg/mL) in the last 24 months. We calculated the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospital admission in the cases, comparing it with the general unexposed VPA population (controls). RESULTS: During the study period, 6183 PCR+ were detected among 281,035 inhabitants, of these, 746 were hospitalized. 691 patients were on VPA notAT and 628 (90.1%) AT. The indication for VPA use was epilepsy in 54.9%. The incidence of PCR+ was 1.736% (OR 0.785 (95%CI 0.443-1.390) and 1.910% (OR 0.865 (95%CI 0.488-1.533), on VPA notAT and VPA AT patients, respectively vs. 2.201% in people without VPA regimen. Those patients with VPA ATR had a lower risk of PCR + (OR 0.233 (95%CI 0.057-0.951) notAT; OR 0.218 (95%CI 0.053-0.890) AT). Hospital admission incidence was lower in patient on VPA (OR was 0.543 (95% CI 0.076-3.871). CONCLUSION: Patients with VPA within the therapeutic range had a reduction of SARS-Cov-2 infection incidence greater than 75%. There is a downward trend in the risk of COVID-19 admission by SARS-CoV-2 in patients on VPA therapy. These findings warrant further investigation.

[Influenza vaccination of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with severe immunodepression. Impact on CD4 lymphocytes and plasma viral load]. / Vacuna antigripal en pacientes infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana con inmunodepresión grave. Efecto sobre los linfocitos CD4 y sobre la carga viral plasmática.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of influenza vaccination on plasma HIV viral load and CD4 T-lymphocytes in patients with advanced HIV disease. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Observational study carried out in HIV-infected patients with a CD4 cell count < 200 X 10(6)on highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART). Influenza vaccine was voluntarily offered and plasma viral load and CD4 cell counts were measured at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 weeks in vaccinated and control subjects. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were analysed, 10 of them being immunized with the influenza vaccine. A significant decline in CD4 cell counts at 4 and 12 weeks and an increasing trend of viral load were seen in all immunized patients who had a high viral load at the time of vaccination (n = 6), but not in those with an undetectable viral load. The mean decrease of CD4 T-lymphocytes in these 6 patients was 49.8%. Three patients showed a huge drop of the CD4 cell count (over 60% of baseline). CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccination of severely immunocompromised HIV-infected patients who are failing to HAART might be associated with an immunological impairment.

Mycoplasma hominis bacteraemia not associated with genital infections.

We describe two cases of systemic infection with M. hominis without prior genital infection and review the previous literature on this condition.