PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

V Cárcaba

Publications and source records attributed to V Cárcaba.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Antiphospholipid antibodies in human immunodeficiency virus infection].

BACKGROUND: The frequency, clinical significance and prognosis of the lupic anticoagulant and the anticardiolipin antibodies were analyzed in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus infection. METHODS: A group of 34 consecutive patients seropositive to HIV with lupic anticoagulant was studied in relation with 75 seropositive subjects without circulating anticoagulant and a control group of plasma of 23 seronegative individuals. The lengthening of thromboplastin time (relation > 1.3) was used as a screening test. The anticardiolipin antibodies IgG were studied by commercial enzymoimmunoassay. RESULTS: Lupic anticoagulant was detected in 21% of the patients with AIDS and in 3% of the seropositive patients without AIDS. The anticoagulant was found in 13 of 53 cases with tuberculosis, in 8 of 57 with pneumonia by Pneumocystis carinii, in 4 of 32 with bacteremia and in 3 out of 8 with lymphoma. In another six patients other minor processes and/or HIV seropositivity were coexistent. Thrombosis was not seen in any case, and the rate of thrombocytopenia (18%) was that to be expected in this population. The patients with anticoagulant had a greater prevalence to developing AIDS, opportunistic infections and tuberculosis with respect to the seropositive group without anticoagulant, however, no differences were observed in the prevalence and levels of anticardiolipin antibodies and other nonspecific autoimmune phenomena. Periodic follow up of the patients with anticoagulant demonstrated persistence of the anticoagulant in 31% and reappearance of the same in 23% with new infections. CONCLUSIONS: No correlation was found between the different antiphospholipid antibodies in the patient infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. Low titers of anticardiolipin antibodies are indicative of disease progression.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

[Replication indexes of the human immunodeficiency virus: predictive value of viral culture and blood antigens].

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relation between markers of load and replication of the HIV [viral culture in plasma and in mononuclear cells of peripheral blood (MCPB) and antigen p24 (p24Ag) with the number of CD4+ cells and the prognosis of the patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 188 patients who were analyzed and followed over a mean period of 431 days. The criteria of clinical progression (AIDS related complex, and new opportunistic infections), immunologic progression (CD4+ < 0.1 and < 0.05 + 10(9)/l) and death. Cocultures of HIV in free plasma and in MCPB were performed with the detection of complete AgHIV in the supernatant of the culture being used for analysis. Circulating p24Ag was determined by an ELISA technique without previous dissociation of the immunocomplexes. RESULTS: HIV cultures in plasma, in MCPB and p24Ag were positive in 27, 48 and 33% of the patients, respectively. The sensitivity of the indexes increased in agreement with the clinical progression of the patients and was inversely proportional to the depletion of the CD4+ lymphocytes (79% of the patients with CD4+ lymphocytes < 0.05 x 10(9)/l presented positive HIV culture in plasma). Viremia in plasma and to a lesser measure p24Ag correlated with variables recognized as bad prognosis and were found to be predictive of unfavorable evolution. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pertenence to a symptomatic group and the presentation of a number of CD4+ lymphocytes of less than 0.2 x 10(9)/l were independent factors associated to the positivity of the viral culture in plasma and p24Ag. The culture positive in MCPB was principally related with the volume of blood analyzed. The risk of death was 6.38 fold greater in the presence of a positive plasma culture and 2.02 fold greater in the presence of positive p24Ag. In contrast, the unquantified positive HIV culture in MCPB showed no statistical significance in relation with patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: Positive HIV culture in plasma was the greatest prognostic index in patients with a number of CD4+ lymphocytes less than 0.2 x 10(9)/l. Unquantified cell culture had no predictive significance. To establish the prognosis of patients, the indexes of viral replication should not be used in isolation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

[Serology of the human immunodeficiency virus in saliva].

BACKGROUND: The presence of immunoglobulins in saliva has allowed it to be proven that they are specific against certain antigens. Antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been observed in saliva. The aim of this study was to evaluate the detection of the same by commercial enzymoinmmunoassay (EIA) and standardize the technique. METHODS: In 78 intravenous drug user patients the presence of antibodies against HIV in serum and saliva were determined by recombinant EIA (Abbott HIV-1/HIV-2 recombinant EIA). The determinations in saliva were made taking volumes of 10 and 50 microliters. RESULTS: In 43 patients the presence of antibodies against HIV-1 was demonstrated in serum, 42 of which were positive in saliva in the determination with 50 microliters and 16 with 10 microliters. No false positives were reported. With the use of 50 microliters of saliva the test showed a sensitivity of 0.98, specificity of 1, predictive value of a positive result of 1, predictive value of negative result of 0.98 and diagnostic efficacy of 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of antibodies against HIV in saliva in intravenous drug users is a highly sensitive and specific method with the use of volumes of 50 microliters in the tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Generalized lymphadenopathy with morphologic findings of multicentric angiofollicular ganglionic hyperplasia in a patient with AIDS].

We report a case of a 33-year-old man, intravenous drugs abuser, HIV-positive, with peripheral lymphadenopathy, hepato-splenomegaly and fever, in which a ganglionic biopsy showed a histology with morphologic features of multicentric Castleman's-like disease, and minute foci of Kaposi's sarcoma ganglion, without cutaneous lesions. Given the interrelationships between this morphology of angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, the development of Kaposi's Sarcoma, and the aggressive clinical course seen in our patient and those in the literature, the use of lymph node biopsy may be an important prognostic tool for the patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1993

[Tuberculosis and HIV infection. Evaluation of 132 cases].

Tuberculosis is currently one the more frequent opportunistic infections in patients infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in our setting. Its extrapulmonary localization is considered as diagnostic of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). We have evaluated the epidemiological, clinical, microbiological, histological and immunological characteristics of 120 patients in the Asturias region who had a tuberculosis diagnosed in any localization, during the period between 1984 and 1991, belonging to a series of 570 patients infected by HIV. Pulmonary types were comparatively analyzed to the extrapulmonary and disseminated ones. Tuberculosis was pulmonary only in 44 occasions (PT), in 36 it was extrapulmonary (EPT) and in 52 disseminated (DT). The more frequent risk factor for the HIV infection was the parenteral consumption of drugs (78.8%). The final diagnosis was microbiologic in 81% of the cases, while bacilloscopia was positive in 62% of the cases. The histologic study showed the presence of granulomas in 86% of the tissues studied and necrosis in 81%. EPT and DT were related with a worse immune situation, bigger mortality rates attributed to tuberculosis and worse survival (p 0.069). Tuberculosis in patients infected by HIV appears mainly in CDVP, being its symptoms the normal ones; but extrapulmonary forms are clearly predominant and within this group those with a ganglionar localization. Normal diagnostic procedures yield a good result. EPT and DT are significantly related to a more severe immunodeficiency in comparison with PT. Survival and prognosis are better in the PT group.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1992

[The prevalence of HCV antibodies in 3 groups with distinct patterns of sexual activity].

We studied the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among 164 heterosexual partners of anti-HCV-positive subjects, 131 prostitutes and 52 homosexual men. 6.7% of heterosexual monogamous partners had anti-HCV; the seropositivity rate was associated with a long-term sexual practice and with age. Of the 131 prostitutes, 6 (4.6%) had anti-HCV; there were significant associations in patients positive for anti-HCV, with a history of parenteral drug addiction. 11.5% of homosexual men were anti-HCV positive; there were significant associations with positivity for antibodies to HIV, intravenous drug abuse and with the number of sexual partners. We concluded that the HCV may be transmitted by sexual route, but the high seroprevalence among prostitutes and homosexuals may be explained by other parenteral mechanisms.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Comparative study of community versus hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

OBJECTIVES: We prospectively investigated 274 consecutive Staphylococcus aureus septicaemias in adult patients between January 1983 and December 1989 to evaluate outcome in hospital acquired and community acquired episodes. METHODS: Epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic parameters were analyzed with univariate and multivariate statistical tests. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Ninety episodes of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia were acquired in the community and 184 in hospital. Diabetes mellitus and renal failure were accompanied by a clear increase in bacteraemia related death in the community-acquired category. Correct antibiotic therapy showed a better response in the community-acquired group. Bacteraemia related death was 22.6% for episodes acquired in the hospital and 18.8% for those originating in the community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Simultaneous acute infection with human immunodeficiency virus and cytomegalovirus].

2 cases of simultaneous acute infection caused by HIV and CV that showed clinical features of infectious mononucleosis with spontaneous resolution and good evolution is presented. After 12 months following them up, both are symptom free carriers of HIV and without clinical features of CV infection. These cases had a good evolution, which is contrary to what is described in other medical literature.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1991

[Necrotic leukoencephalitis, a new infrequent form of presentation of HIV encephalopathy].

A case of a female infected by HIV whose first manifestation was a focal defect of the motor function caused by a brain lesion shown in the CT scan and NMR as a hemispheric mass with discreet expansive effect and central necrosis. The histologic study showed a necrotic leukoencephalitis related to HIV as etiologic agent. We point out the difficulties in diagnosing and treating this disease.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗