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Biomedical subjects

Maria Dorrucci

Publications and source records attributed to Maria Dorrucci.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Temporal trends in postseroconversion CD4 cell count and HIV load: the Concerted Action on Seroconversion to AIDS and Death in Europe Collaboration, 1985-2002.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether early postseroconversion CD4 cell counts and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) loads have changed over time. METHODS: Our analysis was based on 22 cohorts of people with known dates of seroconversion from Europe, Australia, and Canada (Concerted Action on Seroconversion to AIDS and Death in Europe Collaboration). We focused on individuals seroconverting between 1985 and 2002 who had the first CD4 cell count (n=3687) or HIV load (n=1584) measured within 2 years of seroconversion and before antiretroviral use. Linear regression models were used to assess time trends in postseroconversion CD4 cell count and HIV load. Trends in time to key thresholds were also assessed, using survival analysis. RESULTS: The overall median initial CD4 cell count was 570 cells/ microL (interquartile range [IQR], 413-780 cells/ microL). The median initial HIV load was 35,542 copies/mL (IQR, 7600-153,050 copies/mL; on log(10) scale, 3.9-5.2 log(10) copies/mL). The postseroconversion CD4 cell count changed by an average of -6.33 cells/ microL/year (95% confidence interval [CI], -8.47 to -4.20 cells/ microL/year; P<.001), whereas an increase was observed in log(10) HIV load (+0.044 log(10) copies/mL/year; 95% CI, +0.034 to +0.053 log(10) copies/mL/year). These trends remained after adjusting for potential confounders. The probability of progressing to a CD4 cell count of <500 cells/ microL by 24 months from seroconversion increased from 0.66 (95% CI, 0.63-0.69) for individuals who seroconverted before 1991 to 0.80 (95% CI, 0.75-0.84) for those who seroconverted during 1999-2002. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that, in Europe, there has been a trend of decrease in the early CD4 cell count and of increase in the early HIV load. Additional research will be necessary to determine whether similar trends exist in other geographical areas.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Homologous intrauterine insemination in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles: a comparison among three different regimens.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess the efficacy of double intrauterine insemination (IUI) over a single periovulatory IUI in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with low-dose recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) combined with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-four infertile women were randomly assigned to three groups; in group A (38 patients, 47 cycles) a single IUI was performed 36 h after HCG administration combined with timed intercourse the day of HCG administration; within group B (43 patients, 48 cycles) IUI alone was performed 36 h after HCG administration; in group C (39 patients, 43 cycles) a double IUI 12 and 36 h after HCG administration was performed. RESULTS: The mean age and the causes of infertility were similar between the three groups. The number of follicles greater than 15 mm on the day of HCG administration and the overall dose of rFSH required per cycle was not significantly different among the groups. The pregnancy rate (PR) per cycle and per patient was 14.9% and 18.4% in group A, 10.4% and 11.6% in group B, 20.9% and 23.1% in group C, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in PR among the three groups. CONCLUSION: In rFSH/HCG cycles, two IUIs performed 12 and 36 h after HCG administration do not significantly improve pregnancy rates over a single insemination performed 36 h after HCG administration combined with or without timed intercourse the day of HCG administration.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Kaposi's sarcoma in transplant and HIV-infected patients: an epidemiologic study in Italy and France.

BACKGROUND: A follow-up study was conducted in Italy and in France to compare the epidemiology of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people and transplant recipients. METHODS: In all, 8,074 HIV-positive individuals (6,072 from France and 2,002 HIV-seroconverters from Italy) and 2,705 Italian transplant recipients (1,844 kidney transplants, 702 heart transplants, and 159 liver transplants) were followed-up between 1970 and 2004. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed to estimate the risk of KS, as compared to sex- and age-matched Italian and French populations. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were used to identify risk factors for KS. RESULTS: A 451-fold higher SIR for KS was recorded in HIV-infected subjects and a 128-fold higher SIR was seen in transplant recipients. Significantly increased KS risks were observed in HIV-infected homosexual men (IRR=9.7 in France and IRR=6.7 in Italy vs. intravenous drug users), and in transplant recipients born in southern Italy (IRR=5.2 vs. those born in northern Italy). HIV-infected patients with high CD4+ cell counts and those treated with antiretroviral therapies had reduced KS risks. In relation to duration of immunosuppression, KS occurred earlier in transplant patients than in HIV-seroconverters. CONCLUSIONS: This comparison highlighted that the risk of KS was higher among HIV-infected individuals than in transplant recipients, and that different co-factors are likely to influence the risk of KS. Moreover, the early KS occurrence in transplant recipients could be associated with different patterns of progressive impairment of the immune function.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Increased HIV incidence among men who have sex with men in Rome.

Among 976 men who have sex with men (MSM) who had undergone repeat HIV testing between 1984 and 2003 at a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Rome, Italy, we observed a dramatic increase in HIV incidence in 2002 and 2003, with the cumulative incidence for 2000-2003 being twice as high as that for 1984-1995, and significantly higher than that for 1996-1999. This trend suggests the need for interventions aimed at encouraging behavioural changes among MSM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The presence of anti-Tat antibodies is predictive of long-term nonprogression to AIDS or severe immunodeficiency: findings in a cohort of HIV-1 seroconverters.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 Tat protein plays a key role in the life cycle of the virus and in pathogenesis and is highly conserved among HIV subtypes. On the basis of this and of safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy findings in monkeys, Tat is being tested as a vaccine in phase 1 trials. Here, we evaluated the incidence and risk of progression to advanced HIV disease by anti-Tat serostatus in a cohort of 252 HIV-1 seroconverters. The risk of progression was lower in the anti-Tat-positive subjects than in the anti-Tat-negative subjects. Progression was faster in the persistently anti-Tat-negative subjects than in the transiently anti-Tat-positive subjects, and no progression was observed in the persistently anti-Tat-positive subjects.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2005

Changes over time in post-seroconversion CD4 cell counts in the Italian HIV-Seroconversion Study: 1985-2002.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there has been a tendency for early post-seroconversion CD4 cell counts to change over calendar time. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study of individuals with well-estimated dates of seroconversion. METHODS: We studied 1251 individuals who seroconverted to HIV in Italy between 1985 and 2002, and for whom the first CD4 count was measured within 2 years of seroconversion and before any use of antiretrovirals. Linear regression models were used to assess evidence for a trend in post-seroconversion CD4 cell count over time. RESULTS: The median post-seroconversion CD4 cell count was 674 x 10 cells/l in those seroconverting between 1985 and 1990, 588 x 10 cells/l for 1991 to 1994, 559 x 10 cells/l for 1995 to 1998 and 494 x 10 cells/l for 1999 to 2002. The post-seroconversion CD4 cell count decreased by an average of 8.4 x 10 cells/l per year (95% confidence interval, 4.0-12.9; P < 0.001), after adjustment for potential confounders, including interval between HIV-negative and HIV-positive tests, lag time for first CD4 cell count measurement, age at seroconversion, gender, HIV-transmission group, and clinical centre. The finding was consistent in sensitivity analyses restricted to those with information on acute infection. CONCLUSION: These data suggest a possible decreasing trend in CD4 cell count immediately following seroconversion in Italy which requires further investigation.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

The effect of hepatitis C on progression to AIDS before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, before and after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS: We used data from a multi-centre prospective study of HIV seroconverters. Survival analyses were performed to compare the progression to AIDS by HCV serostatus in the period before HAART (i.e. June 1991-May 1996) and in the HAART era (i.e. June 1996-June 2001), controlling for duration of HIV infection. RESULTS: Among the 1052 persons enrolled, 595 (56.6%) were co-infected; the median follow-up time was 9.7 years. Adjusting for demographic variables (age at HIV seroconversion and gender), HCV infection had no effect on the progression to AIDS in the pre-HAART era [relative hazard (RH) = 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.63-1.11], whereas it increased the risk in the HAART era (RH = 1.77; 95% CI, 1.15-2.73). In the HAART era, the proportion of person-time spent on HAART out of the total time at risk was significantly lower among co-infected persons (30 versus 40% for non-co-infected persons; P-value = 0.001); no significant difference was found for dual-therapy (29 versus 25%, respectively; P-value = 0.205); a significant difference was found for mono-therapy (15 versus 8%, respectively; P-value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HCV infection was not a determinant of HIV disease progression in the pre-HAART era, whereas since the introduction of HAART, co-infected individuals seem to have had a faster disease progression. This may in part be explained by differences in person-time spent on different antiretroviral regimens.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2003

Effect of maternal HIV and malaria infection on pregnancy and perinatal outcome in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of isolated or concomitant infection with malaria and HIV on pregnancy and neonatal outcome. METHODS: Data were collected on pregnant women admitted during the rainy seasons in the obstetric division of a district referral hospital in northern Zimbabwe in 2000 and 2001. The effects of malaria and HIV infection were determined by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of HIV seropositivity and symptomatic malaria in 986 pregnant women was 8.3% and 14.7%, respectively. HIV-infected women were more likely to develop malaria attacks during pregnancy than seronegative women (odds ratio [OR] = 3.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.42-6.46). Malaria and HIV infections were associated with increased risk of stillbirth (OR = 4.74, 95% CI: 1.34-16.78) and preterm delivery (OR = 4.10, 95% CI: 2.17-7.75), respectively. They were independently associated with increased risk of low birth weight (malaria: OR = 10.09, 95% CI: 6.50-15.65; HIV: OR = 3.16, 95% CI: 1.80-5.54) and very low birth weight (malaria: OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.00-25.43; HIV: OR = 10.74, 95% CI: 2.12-54.41), low Apgar score (malaria: OR = 4.45, 95% CI: 1.42-13.94; HIV: OR = 5.94, 95% CI: 1.66-21.30), and fetal growth restriction (malaria: OR = 3.98, 95% CI: 2.51-6.30; HIV: OR = 4.07, 95% CI: 2.40-6.92). Dual infection with malaria and HIV was associated with increased risk of maternal, perinatal, and early infant death. CONCLUSIONS: Women with single HIV or malaria infection have a significantly increased risk of adverse outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth. Dual infection has additional detrimental effects on maternal and infant survival in an area where HIV and malaria coexist.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed2003

Effect of multiple herpesvirus infections on the progression of HIV disease in a cohort of HIV seroconverters.

The effects of herpesviruses infection on the progression of HIV disease remain controversial, with some studies showing accelerated progression and others showing no effect. Furthermore, the effect of concurrent infection with more than one herpesvirus on the progression of HIV disease has never been investigated. To this end, the rates of progression of HIV disease were determined after stratifying for the presence of up to five different herpesvirus infections. The study population consisted of 359 HIV-infected persons for whom the date of seroconversion was estimated (part of the Italian Seroconversion Study). One serum sample from each participant was tested for antibodies to five herpesviruses: HSV-2, CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8. Univariate analysis showed that HSV-2 and HHV-8 were significantly associated with progression to AIDS, yet when adjusting for age at HIV seroconversion and for the presence of the other herpesvirus infections, only HHV-8 infection showed a significant association. The age-adjusted risk of progression to AIDS with Kaposi's sarcoma increased with the number of herpesvirus infections and was significant in individuals with four infections. The risk of progression to AIDS without Kaposi's sarcoma also increased with the number of infections, although not significantly. Similar results were found when considering CD4+ cell count <200 x 10(6) cells/L as the endpoint. Concurrent infection with more than one herpesvirus does not appear to have a significant effect on the course of HIV disease, except for the known association between HHV-8 and Kaposi's sarcoma. However, even after excluding Kaposi's sarcoma from the AIDS-defining endpoints, a slightly increased risk for participants with four herpesvirus infections remained.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence and determinants of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in a cohort of HIV-positive individuals in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections may be a risk factor for the transmission of HIV. Data on the prevalence of HSV-2 infection among HIV-positive individuals are scarce. GOAL: The goal was to study the seroprevalence of and risk factors for HSV-2 infection among a cohort of Italian HIV-positive individuals. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. HSV-2 serologic testing was performed for individuals with known date of HIV seroconversion, on the serum specimen obtained on the date closest to the estimated date of seroconversion. Antibodies to HSV-2 (anti-HSV-2) were detected by a gG2-specific ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 380 HIV-positive individuals were tested for anti-HSV-2; 126 (33.2%) of them were positive. Older age at HIV seroconversion and homosexuality were significantly associated with HSV-2 infection in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These data stress the need for including anti-HSV-2 testing and therapy in the management of HIV positivity, especially for reducing the risk of transmission of HIV through herpetic lesions.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2002

No protective effect of acyclovir on HIV disease progression in a cohort of HSV-2-HIV-infected individuals.

The efficacy of anti-herpetic drugs in decreasing HIV disease progression has not been clarified. We studied a cohort of 126 HIV-positive individuals with known date of seroconversion who were HSV-2-seropositive to determine if progression to AIDS was influenced by treatment with acyclovir. In the multivariate analysis, being homosexual and low CD4 count were associated with a faster progression to AIDS, whereas treatment with acyclovir showed a 37.0% protective effect compared to those who did not receive it when antiretroviral treatment was not included in the model. When including antiretroviral therapy, the protective effect of acyclovir decreased to 9.0% and that of antiretroviral therapy was 43.0% for monotherapy and 36.0% for double therapy, suggesting that most of the protective effect of acyclovir in the previous model was due to antiretroviral therapy. In conclusion, treatment with acyclovir does not seem to prolong significantly survival to AIDS among HIV-positive individuals who are HSV-2-infected.

Acyclovir↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Survival, progression to AIDS and immunosuppression in HIV-positive individuals before and after the introduction of the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)].

We evaluated the changes in the progression to death and AIDS and in the mean level of CD4 lymphocytes by calendar period in HIV-positive individuals before and after the introduction of HAART. Through data collected in a prospective cohort study (Italian Seroconversion Study) of 1899 HIV-infected persons with well estimated date of seroconversion, considered as time-zero of analysis, we calculated Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox models, allowing for staggered entries, to estimate the cumulative probability of survival and hazard-ratios (HR) for death and for AIDS by calendar period (1980-1996: pre-HAART era, 1997-1998: first HAART era, and 1999-2001: second HAART era), age at seroconversion, gender, and exposure category. During 17251 person-years, 660 HIV-positive patients developed AIDS and 510 died. Before 1997, the cumulative probability of survival, at twelve years from seroconversion, was 51.0%. In the period 1997-1998 the probability was 77.3% and in the period 1999-2001 it further increased at 91.2%. In the period 1980-1996 only older age at seroconversion was associated with more rapid progression to death. In the period 1987-2001 individuals infected through injecting drug use had a reduced increase of survival compared to those infected through sexual contact. Similar results were obtained for progression to AIDS. Finally we estimated an improved level of immunesuppression in the period 1987-2001. In fact, while in the period 1980-1996 we estimated a decrease of the CD4 lymphocites of -54.8 cells/mm3 (95% CI: -52.0; -57.6) per year; after 1996, we estimated an increase of CD4 of +39.6 (95% CI +34.1; +45.1)per year. This study provides strong evidence that the efficacy of the HAART estimated in the controlled clinical trials has resulted in a real reduction at the population level of morbidity and mortality.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗