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Biomedical subjects

M Robinet

Publications and source records attributed to M Robinet.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Ocular toxoplasmosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

The files of 45 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with ocular toxoplasmosis were reviewed, with a median follow-up of eight months. The condition was unilateral in 37 of the 45 patients (82%) and was bilateral in eight (18%). Inflammation of the anterior chamber and the vitreous was present in 32 of 53 eyes (60%) and 38 of 53 eyes (72%), respectively. Cytomegalovirus retinitis developed during the follow-up period in nine patients (20%). Cerebral toxoplasmosis was concurrently diagnosed with the ocular toxoplasmosis in 13 patients (29%). The efficacy of the combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine or clindamycin was assessed in 42 patients for the induction therapy and in 38 patients for the maintenance therapy. Induction therapy was always effective within a median period of six weeks. During maintenance treatment, the 24-month relapse rates were 0.20 and 0.18 for the 50-mg/day and 25-mg/day dosage of pyrimethamine, respectively. The overall 12-month survival rate was 0.72. Our results suggested that ocular toxoplasmosis has a better ocular prognosis than cytomegalovirus retinitis, but that it requires appropriate treatment because life-threatening cerebral involvement is often associated.

Adult↗

Foscarnet induction therapy for cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS: comparison of twice-daily and three-times-daily regimens.

We have evaluated the effects of induction therapy with foscarnet 100 mg/kg b.i.d. via i.v. infusion in 60 AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and compared the findings with those in 37 such patients receiving a foscarnet induction regimen of 60 mg/kg t.i.d. via i.v. infusion. Induction therapy was given for at least 3 weeks, with the treatment period being extended in cases of slow resolution of retinitis. There was no significant difference between response rates in the two groups, with ophthalmologic response being observed in 52 (96%) of 54 evaluable b.i.d. patients and 33 (97%) of 34 evaluable t.i.d. patients over mean durations of therapy of 26 and 27 days, respectively; complete and partial responses were observed in 91 and 6%, respectively, of b.i.d. patients and 85 and 12%, respectively, of t.i.d. patients. Foscarnet was discontinued because of adverse events in 3 (3%) of 97 patients, with treatment being stopped in 2 patients because of renal insufficiency and in 1 patient because of an acute neurologic disorder. Serum creatinine concentrations increased significantly in both the b.i.d. group (from 82 to 98 mumol/L, p less than 0.01) and the t.i.d. group (from 73 to 122 mumol/L, p less than 0.001), with the difference between increases not being statistically significant. Serum creatinine concentrations greater than 200 mumol/L were observed in two b.i.d. patients and four t.i.d. patients; in four cases, concomitant medications or conditions contributed to renal impairment. Hypocalcemia of less than 1.75 mmol/L occurred in 18% of b.i.d. patients and 28% of t.i.d. patients during treatment (p = 0.03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Efficacy and tolerance of intravitreal ganciclovir in cytomegalovirus retinitis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Forty-four patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome with cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (64 eyes) intolerant of or refusing systemic antiviral therapy received 710 intravitreal injections of ganciclovir at the dosage of 400 micrograms per injection. The patients were followed for a mean period of 9 weeks. Induction therapy consisted of two injections a week until healing. Maintenance therapy consisted of one injection a week until relapse. All but 1 of 53 induction courses led to cicatrization, after a mean of 6.6 injections. In 54 maintenance courses, the 8-week relapse rate was 53%. During intravitreal therapy, involvement of the fellow eye occurred in 11% of the patients and CMV infection developed in a nonocular site in 16% of the patients. Five retinal detachments and two intravitreal hemorrhages occurred. No endophthalmitis or cataract was noted. Intravitreal ganciclovir appears to be a safe and effective alternative in patients intolerant of intravenous anti-CMV drugs.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Subacute inhalation toxicity of benzaldehyde in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Benzaldehyde was administered by inhalation to female and male Sprague-Dawley rats for 14 consecutive days (low level: 500 ppm; medium level: 750 ppm; high level: 1000 ppm). Effects of this chemical were investigated during and at the end of the exposure period. Throughout the experiment, significant hypothermia and a reduction of motor activity were observed in all rats exposed to benzaldehyde and were accompanied in high-level rats by a severe impairment of the central nervous system, as evidenced by abnormal gait, tremors, and a positive Straub sign. Histopathologic examination of tissues from exposed rats showed a goblet cell metaplasia that was largely confined to the respiratory epithelium lining the nasal septum in male rats. No other abnormal microscopic changes were observed. A no effect level was not observed in these studies.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Foscarnet in the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the major cause of visual loss in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Thirty-one patients with active CMV retinitis were treated with the new antiviral drug, Foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate). After a 3-week course of induction therapy, the retinitis improved in 29 of 31 patients (93.5%). Complete resolution of the retinitis was seen in 19 cases (61.3%). Ten patients had partial resolution (32.2%) and two (6.5%) failed to respond. After induction therapy, six patients were put on a low-dose maintenance regimen. All patients without maintenance therapy relapsed within 3 weeks after discontinuation of Foscarnet. The rate of relapse on maintenance therapy was 50% (3/6) within the first 5 weeks. The three other patients of Foscarnet maintenance did not relapse after a follow-up period of 12 weeks. In contrast to ganciclovir, Foscarnet did not induce neutropenia but it produced kidney toxicity that led to reversible renal insufficiency in three cases. Thus, Foscarnet appears to be a useful alternative to ganciclovir, particularly when combined with bone marrow toxic drugs, such as zidovudine (azidothymidine).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS. Treatment with intravitreal injections of ganciclovir].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is the most frequent ocular infection in AIDS, and it is responsible for blindness. Intravitreal injections of ganciclovir in doses of 400 g have been tried in patients who could not tolerate any systemic treatment. Induction therapy consists of 2 injections per week, followed by maintenance therapy with 1 injection per week. The present study involved 17 patients. Twenty-three induction courses could be evaluated; all had a favourable response with an average of 6 injections per eye. Seventeen maintenance courses were evaluated, with a mean of 5 injections per eye. There was no relapse in 10 eyes (70 percent) at 48 days. There was no evidence of toxicity from repeated intravitreal injections: no cataract, retinal detachment or endophthalmitis was observed with a total of 231 injections. Intravitreal ganciclovir appears to be an effective local treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients when systemic therapy cannot be used.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗