[Clinical and immunological profile of HIV-infected patients at the initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Douala]. / Profil clinique et immunologique des patients infectés par le VIH à l'initiation du traitement antirétroviral à Douala.

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and immunological profile of patients infected with HIV after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and immunological patients were recorded. Chi square test and Mann-Whitney were used to compare variables. The multivariate regression model identified risk factors. So that, 936 (56.2%) patients were in stages III and IV of the WHO and 65.2% at an advanced stage of the disease. Factors associated with initiation at an advanced stage, were male sex (p = 0.007) and time to diagnosis (p = 0.005). In 2/3 cases, treatment is started at an advanced stage of disease. It is therefore important to intensify awareness campaigns for early detection and encourage patients to ensure regular medical follow-up screening.

The effects of diethylcarbamazine citrate, antihistamines and corticosteroid derivatives on skin reactivity to Onchocerca supernatants.

A single dose of promethazine or of betamethazone, either alone or compounded with dexchloropheniramine, was found to inhibit skin wheal formation in onchocerciasis patients challenged with Onchocerca supernatants. The mean wheal diameter developing 24 hours after drug administration ranged between 40-60% less than the original pre-treatment diameter but this effect had been abolished or was significantly less by 48 hours. Diethycarbamazinecitrate had only a 20% inhibitory effect on the wheal diameter of the skin reaction. It is concluded that antihistamines and corticosteroid derivates may interfere with the immunodiagnostic skin test for onchocerciasis based on skin reactivity to Onchocerca supernatants, unless measures are taken to ensure that these drugs are not consumed within the 48 hours preceding the skin test.