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Biomedical subjects

C Dhiver

Publications and source records attributed to C Dhiver.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Cellular and plasma viral load in patients infected with HIV-2.

OBJECTIVE: To determine circulating viral load in HIV-2-infected individuals. METHODS: Viral load was determined in 40 HIV-2-infected adults using standardized quantitative cell and qualitative plasma viraemia assays. We also tested for proviral HIV-2 DNA using single and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in fresh lymphocytes from 27 subjects. The results were compared, on the basis of the CD4+ lymphocyte count, with our published data for HIV-1 infection. RESULTS: HIV-2 was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 19 individuals and plasma from four patients. The rate of cell and plasma viraemia positivity correlated with the CD4+ cell count and HIV-2 virus load increased as the CD4+ cell count fell. The cellular HIV-2 load in the patients with a CD4+ count < 200 x 10(6)/l was similar to reported values for HIV-1, but the HIV-2 isolation rate from the plasma of these individuals was significantly lower than for HIV-1. When the CD4+ count was between 200 and 500 x 10(6)/l, the rate of HIV-2 isolation from plasma and the cellular virus load were both significantly lower than for HIV-1. When the CD4+ count was > 500 x 10(6)/l, HIV-1 and HIV-2 were undetectable in plasma and HIV-1 was isolated from PBMC in significantly more cases than HIV-2. By single PCR, amplification were positive in 14 out of 27 subjects and there was a correlation between positivity and CD4+ cell count. By nested PCR, only four of the 27 subjects, all with a high CD4+ count, remained negative. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in viral load between individuals infected with HIV-2 and those infected with HIV-1 could partly account for reported differences in the pathogenicity of the two viruses.

Adult↗
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

[Hemichorea-hemiballismus and toxoplasmosis in AIDS].

The authors report two cases of hemichorea-hemiballism revealing a toxoplasmic abscess in the subthalamic nucleus during AIDS. Despite the great frequency of this opportunistic infection such cases are exceptional. This rarity seems to be explained by the frequent association of other lesions of the basal ganglia which may prevent the movement disorders. Nevertheless an hemichorea-hemiballism in young people must suggest a cerebral toxoplasmosis. Finally a symptomatic treatment is often necessary; in these cases the use of sodium valproate must be considered, this drug being able to induce a clinical improvement.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1991

[Epilepsy seizures in HIV infection. 52 cases].

Fifty-two patients at various stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who had one or several epileptic seizures in the course of that disease were retrospectively studied from 1985 to 1990. Thirty-five percent of these patients were in overt clinical AIDS at the time of the seizure(s). AIDS was revealed by a seizure in 2 cases. Generalized seizures were observed in 71 percent of the patients, and partial seizures in 29 percent. Electroencephalograms showed signs of brain irritation in only 19 percent of the cases. The cause of epileptic seizure(s) could be determined in 36 patients: cerebral toxoplasmosis in 23 cases; progressive multifocal leucoencephalitis in 2 cases; HIV encephalopathy in 3 cases; iatrogenic cause in 4 cases; meningoencephalitis in 3 cases and neurosyphilis in 1 case. No cause other than HIV infection was found in 16 patients. These findings confirm those of previous studies. In about one-third of AIDS patients epileptic seizures are the only clinical manifestation of viral central nervous system infection.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
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↗
PubMed1990

[Value of anticardiolipin antibody assay in human immunodeficiency virus infection].

Recently published encouraging data concerning the value of anticardiolipin antibody assays in patients with HIV infection, both for prognostic purposes and to diagnose pneumocystosis, have prompted us to evaluate these assays in a series of 116 patients. We were unable to demonstrate any correlation between the levels of these antibodies and the clinical stage of the infection or the presence of thrombocytopenia. Varying levels of anticardiolipin antibodies were found in 29.3 percent of our patients. More frequent positivity and higher levels seemed to be associated only with the development of cerebral toxoplasmosis. The value and the possible physiopathological role of these antibodies in patients with HIV infection should be reconsidered.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗