Severe Thrombocytopenia after Zika Virus Infection, Guadeloupe, 2016.

Severe thrombocytopenia during or after the course of Zika virus infection has been rarely reported. We report 7 cases of severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic signs and symptoms in Guadeloupe after infection with this virus. Clinical course and laboratory findings strongly suggest a causal link between Zika virus infection and immune-mediated thrombocytopenia.

Incidence and predictive factors of depression among patients with HIV infection in Guadeloupe: 1988-2009.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the incidence and the predictive factors of depression in a cohort of 2737 HIV/AIDS-infected patients in Guadeloupe followed for a total of 8402 patient-years. The incidence rate of first observed depression was 2.2 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-2.6). A single failure Cox proportional hazards model showed that the 1997-2000 inclusion period (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.10-2.40;p = 0.01), the 2001-2009 inclusion period (HR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.02-2.40;p = 0.04), the more advanced CDC stage (HR = 2.30; 95% CI = 1.30-3.10;p = 0.000) and the annual frequency of visits > 10 (HR = 2.30; 95% CI = 1.70-3.30;p = 0.000) were associated with an increased risk of depression. Incidence of depression in this HIV cohort was high and the hazard function showed three peaks of depression (2, 7 and 12 years). Physicians should be vigilant to psychological distress throughout life with HIV.

What is AIDS in Guadeloupe? A descriptive and comparative study.

Since the pathogen ecology differs between Caribbean regions, specific differences in the most frequent clinical presentations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) may be expected. We therefore conducted the present retrospective cohort study in order to describe the main AIDS-defining events in Guadeloupe and to compare them with those observed in Metropolitan France and in French Guiana. We discuss the local pathogen ecology, the diagnostic limitations of hospitals in overseas territories and the drivers of the epidemic.

Comparison between siblings and twins supports a role for modifier genes in ADPKD.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by intrafamilial variability in renal disease progression, which could result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Although a role for modifier genes has been evidenced in mouse models, direct evidence in ADPKD patients is lacking. The analysis of variability in affected siblings and monozygotic (MZ) twins would help evaluate the relative contribution of environment and genetic factors on renal disease progression in ADPKD. METHODS: The difference in the age at end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were quantified in a large series of ADPKD siblings from western Europe and compared with the values obtained in a series of MZ ADPKD twins from the same geographic area. RESULTS: Fifty-six sibships (including 129 patients) and nine pairs of MZ twins were included. The difference in the age at ESRD was significantly higher in siblings (6.9 +/- 6.0 years, range 2 months to 23 years) than in MZ twins (2.1 +/- 1.9 years, range 1 month to 6 years; P = 0.02). Furthermore, the intraclass correlation coefficient was significantly lower in siblings than in MZ twins (0.49 vs. 0.92, respectively; P = 0.003). The intrafamilial difference in the age at ESRD was not influenced by gender. CONCLUSION: These data substantiate the existence of a large intrafamilial variability in renal disease progression in ADPKD siblings. The fact that the variability in siblings is in a significant excess of that found in MZ twins strongly suggests that modifier genes account for a significant part of this variability.

Influence of ACE (I/D) and G460W polymorphism of alpha-adducin in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: The deleterious effect of the DD genotype of ACE in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) remains controversial. Small sample size, population admixture and lack of consideration of parameters modulating the effects of ACE genotype, such as gender or alpha-adducin (ADD) genotype, might explain the discrepancy. METHODS: We investigated the effect of ACE (I/D) polymorphism on the age at end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a homogeneous population of 191 ADPKD patients, according to gender and genotype for the G460W polymorphism of ADD. Cumulative renal survival was assessed in 276 patients from the same families. RESULTS: Though no effect was detected in the whole population, analysis of the male subset (n = 97) showed that patients harbouring the DD genotype of ACE had a 5-year lower mean age at ESRD than DI + II patients [47.8 +/- 1.8 (n = 31) vs 52.8 +/- 1.1 (n = 66), respectively] (P = 0.02). Furthermore, cumulative renal survival was lower in the corresponding pedigrees [47 +/- 1 years, 95% confidence interval (CI) 45-49, vs 51 +/- 1 years, 95% CI 48-54]. The G460W polymorphism of ADD had no effect on the age at ESRD and cumulative renal survival, either alone or in combination with the ACE (I/D) polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: In this large series of ADPKD patients, we found no effect of the ACE (I/D) polymorphism on the age at ESRD, either alone or in combination with the G460W polymorphism of ADD. However, a deleterious effect of the DD genotype of ACE on renal disease progression was observed in ADPKD males.

A new acute inflammatory syndrome related to the introduction of mycophenolate mofetil in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is increasingly used for prevention of allograft rejection and to treat immune disorders. We report the development of an acute inflammatory syndrome in two patients with Wegener's granulomatosis after MMF was introduced, because of persistent renal and systemic disease activity despite cyclophosphamide treatment. Within 1 week both patients developed an acute inflammatory syndrome, characterized by fever, arthralgias and muscle pain. No infection could be detected and no indications for increased Wegener's activity were present. MMF was stopped resulting in a rapid and complete resolution of the syndrome. A rechallenge with 2 g of MMF in the second patient resulted in a relapse of the syndrome within 4 days. There was an association between symptoms and increased levels of mycophenolic acid (MPA) acyl glucuronide and serum interleukin-6, suggesting the induction of inflammatory cytokines by MPA acyl glucuronide as the cause of the syndrome. Therefore, special attention should be given to side effects such as fever, arthralgias and muscle pain when treating patients with Wegener's granulomatosis during the active phase. Because this side effect of MMF may also occur after solid organ transplantation and in other immune disorders, pharmacokinetic profiling of MPA and MPA acyl glucuronide is needed in future studies with MMF.

Regional citrate anticoagulation for hemodialysis using a conventional calcium-containing dialysate.

Regional citrate anticoagulation is currently a frequently applied technique for hemodialysis patients at increased risk of bleeding. Most experience exists with isotonic citrate in combination with a calcium-free dialysate and separate substitution with calcium chloride. This method is effective, but rather cumbersome and laborious. In search for a less demanding, but equally safe and effective technique, we performed 203 double-needle hemodialysis sessions in 45 patients at high risk of bleeding using regional anticoagulation with hypertonic trisodium citrate (TSC) and a conventional calcium-containing dialysate. At the start of dialysis, citrate was infused at a rate of 75 mL/h; adjustments were made during dialysis according to the degree of anticoagulation and level of ionized calcium within the systemic circuit. The efficacy and short-term safety of regional anticoagulation with TSC as compared with heparin anticoagulation was ascertained in a cohort of 19 stable hemodialysis patients. Systemic anticoagulation did not occur, and plasma-ionized calcium remained on a stable level. Manifestations of citrate toxicity or hypocalcemia were not observed. Clotting within the dialyzer was noted in 18 of the 203 sessions (8.87%) and resulted in early termination of dialysis in only 3 cases (1.48%). In conclusion, the use of hypertonic TSC and a conventional calcium-containing dialysate was shown to be safe and effective. The risk of clotting of the extracorporeal circuit is limited and outweighed by the advantage of reduced procedural complexity. Compared with the use of a calcium-free dialysate, the number of analyses can be reduced substantially, making this method financially attractive.