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Biomedical subjects

A Lafeuillade

Publications and source records attributed to A Lafeuillade.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Study of sensory involvement and dysautonomia in HIV infected patients. A prospective study of 55 cases].

Subclinical impairment of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is frequent during HIV infection. Nevertheless, little attention has been given to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). We undertook a prospective study of the ANS, exploring 55 HIV+ subjects with non-invasive functional tests for the cardiac ANS. We also made a quantitative study of thermic (small fibers) and vibratory (large fibers) sensibilities. The results do not show any statistically significant difference between HIV+ subjects and control subjects or between HIV+ subjects of groups I, II and III and those of group IV of the CDC classification. However, an individual analysis comparing the results of the infected subjects with those of the control group indicated the presence of functional abnormalities of the ANS (small fibers) in 34.5% of HIV+ patients with an equally frequent impairment of the thermic perception (small fibers) and of the vibratory perception (large fibers). Moreover, the signs of subclinical dysautonomia were more frequent in group IV (48.3%) than in groups I, II and III (19%) showing a progressive accentuation of the troubles during the course of the infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Endothelial cell dysfunction in HIV infection.

We have investigated plasma levels of endothelial cell products playing a role in hemostasis in 125 HIV-positive patients and 30 controls. Antigenic von Willebrand factor increased significantly with disease progression and was closely correlated with CD4+ cell counts and beta 2-microglobulin levels. Tissue-type plasminogen activator was normal in CDC II/III and CDC IVC2 patients and was slightly increased in AIDS patients, whereas plasminogen activator inhibitor was increased in each group, the stage of the disease not having any effect. Mean total protein S levels were lower in HIV-positive patients and, in 27.2% of the cases, were associated with a decrease in free protein S levels. Such abnormalities could be responsible for a hypercoagulable state in these patients and could be explained by endothelial cell damage during HIV infection. Whether this injury is due to HIV itself remains to be further investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Cutaneo-mucosal hyperpigmentation in AIDS. 4 cases].

Four cases of pigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes in homosexuals of the IVC1 group (CDC classification) are reported. The aetiological investigation, although incomplete, pointed to a medicinal origin which could not be formally confirmed. The drugs suspected were azidothymidine, pyrimethamine and ketoconazole. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of adrenal insufficiency. The few published cases of cutaneo-mucosal pigmentation in HIV infection, often mimicking adrenal insufficiency, emphasize the need for thorough toxicological investigation; this may avoid prescribing an unnecessary and dangerous corticosteroid therapy which might be harmful in these deeply immunocompromized patients who often have multiple infections.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

[Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS. 70 cases].

Although Kaposi's sarcoma is the most frequent of malignant diseases associated with AIDS and one of the first recognized manifestations of the syndrome, its management has not yet been standardized. This study concerns 70 AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma followed up in the author's hospital department between june 1985 and december 1989. Most of these patients were homosexual or bisexual males. The mean time elapsed between the finding of a positive HIV test and the discovery of Kaposi's sarcoma was 15 +/- 3.2 months. Systematic evaluation disclosed visceral lesions in 50 percent of the patients. Chemotherapy was used in 55 cases, interferon-alpha in 23 cases and radiotherapy in 13 cases. The presence of visceral lesions clearly reduced survival time, although deaths were mainly due to opportunistic infections. Atypical forms of Kaposi's sarcoma sometimes make its diagnosis difficult, but the main problem is that of treatment, in view of the underlying immunodepression. The authors advocate the setting up of multicentre trials aimed at determining the best therapeutic approach in these patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗