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Biomedical subjects

W Heise

Publications and source records attributed to W Heise.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Disseminated toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients--report of 16 cases.

Between June 1986 and October 1992, disseminated toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 16 AIDS patients. 13 cases were diagnosed at autopsy where multiple organ involvement was documented in all 13. Three patients were diagnosed intra vitam. All 3 survived with appropriate treatment. Clinical features indicative of disseminated toxoplasmosis were: fever of unknown origin between 39 degrees and 40 degrees C in 16 cases, clinical signs suggestive of sepsis or septic shock in 15, with progression to multiorgan failure in 10, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy in 6, confusion, disorientation or apathy in 13 and lack of a systemic pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis in all 16. Typical laboratory markers were: CD4 cell counts below 100 x 10(6)/l in 16 cases, elevation of serum lactic dehydrogenase in 16 and creatine phosphokinase (in 4/6), normal or only slightly elevated C-reactive protein (in 9/11), positive Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in 15/16 and negative IgM antibodies in all 16. Lesions indicative of cerebral toxoplasmosis were visualized on cranial computerized tomography in only 3/10 evaluated patients. In patients with advanced HIV infection presenting with a systemic illness, including the clinical and laboratory features described above, systemic Toxoplasma gondii infection must be included in the differential diagnosis. In these patients, specific and if warranted, invasive diagnostic procedures followed by early vigorous therapeutic intervention should be considered.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1994

Serum carotene deficiency in HIV-infected patients. Berlin Diarrhoea/Wasting Syndrome Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To assess total serum carotene concentration in HIV-infected patients as an indicator of fat malabsorption in correlation with diarrhoea, secondary enteric infections, and blood lymphocyte subsets. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Two referral-based tertiary care centres in Berlin, Germany. PATIENTS: A total of 33 controls and 116 HIV-infected patients who had complete microbiological evaluation of stools and biopsies obtained at upper endoscopy because of diarrhoea (n = 54), or other symptoms (n = 62), were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total serum carotene concentration was determined spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Total serum carotene concentration was abnormal (< 0.88 mumol/l) in 77% of HIV-infected patients and significantly decreased compared with controls [0.47 mumol/l (range, 0.06-1.69 mumol/l) versus 1.37 mumol/l (range, 0.88-2.92 mumol/l); P < 0.0001]. Total serum carotene concentration did not differ between AIDS patients and patients at earlier disease stages, between patients with or without secondary enteric infections, or between patients with or without fever. In patients at earlier disease stages, but not in AIDS patients, total serum carotene concentration was lower for patients with than without diarrhoea. The percentage of CD4 lymphocytes (r = 0.364; P < 0.001), CD4 count (r = 0.28; P = 0.0013), and CD4/CD8 ratio (r = 0.38; P < 0.001) in the peripheral blood correlated with total serum carotene levels in HIV-infected patients. CONCLUSION: HIV-infected patients frequently have abnormal total serum carotene concentrations indicating fat malabsorption which may contribute to diarrhoea. Furthermore, total serum carotene concentrations correlate with immunologic abnormalities in HIV infection.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1994

Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV infected women in Germany: more evidence for sexual transmission. A report of 10 cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the natural history of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in HIV-positive women living in Germany. METHODS: All physicians reporting the diagnosis of KS in a female patient were contacted and asked for detailed information. DESIGN: Descriptive study of clinical, epidemiological and immunological data of ten women with biopsy-proven KS living in Germany were evaluated. The results are compared with those of other previously published studies of women with KS from Italy, France and the USA. SETTING: Five centres in Germany. RESULTS: Of 765 German women with AIDS, only 10 (1.3%) were reported to suffer from Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) compared with 1771 of 8128 men (21.8%). Mean age in these women was 39.7 years. KS was the first AIDS defining event in nine women and the reason for HIV-testing in three. The mean CD4 count was 215/microliters. Two patients were of African origin, had only recently come to Germany and were most likely to have acquired their HIV-infection in Africa. Three patients were i.v.-drug users (IVDU). Two of these (and most likely all three) had worked as prostitutes. Of five women who had contracted HIV via heterosexual contacts, one worked as a prostitute and the other four were married to or were living together with a bisexual HIV-positive man. All four male partners have also developed KS. The course of the disease seems to be particularly aggressive in female patients with eight of 10 women presenting with or progressing to widely disseminated disease with extensive involvement of internal organs. In this cohort survival was longer in females who acquired their HIV infection heterosexually compared to IVDU and was strongly correlated with higher CD4-counts at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: KS seems to run a particularly aggressive course in women. Our data are consistent with a sexually transmittable aetiological agent of KS. Prostitution, an issue yet to be addressed by other authors reporting series of women with KS, was reported in four of our patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the significance of this finding.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

[Histoplasmosis of the skin as an initial opportunistic infection in AIDS].

A 55-year-old homosexual Indonesian (last stay in Indonesia 2 years previously), known to be HIV positive since 1986, developed desquamating, in part ulcerating, skin eruption over the face and shoulder region. On admission his temperature was 38.2 degrees C, erythrocyte sedimentation rate 72/95 mm, white cell count 3.100/microliters, and the CD4 cell count 30/microliters. Examination of lung, oesophagus, stomach, duodenum and colon for possible opportunistic infections was negative. Fundoscopy revealed an infiltrate in the right eye with destruction of the vitreous. Skin biopsy suggested histoplasmosis, confirmed by culturing H. capsulatum varietas capsulatum. It is likely that this was the reactivation of a latent, previously symptom-free infection, in this case the first opportunistic infection in the presence of AIDS. For 30 days he received infusions of amphotericin B (initially 0.1 mg/kg daily, after the 5th day 0.5 mg/kg), resulting in rapid healing of the skin lesions. Subsequently he has received (for 6 months so far) itraconazole, 400 mg daily, without further complications.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Disseminated toxoplasmosis with sepsis in AIDS.

A 24-year-old woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was admitted with septic fever of unknown origin and a 2-week history of diarrhea. Clinical diagnostic procedures did not reveal the cause of sepsis. Broad-spectrum antibiotics and intensive symptomatic therapy could not prevent progressive deterioration. The patient developed septic shock and consumptive coagulopathy and died 6 days after admission. Autopsy revealed disseminated infection with toxoplasma gondii and multiple organ manifestations. We conclude that disseminated toxoplasmosis should be considered in AIDS patients with septic disease of unknown origin. Extremely elevated lactate dehydrogenase may suggest disseminated toxoplasma gondii infection. New procedures such as polymerase chain reaction for detection of toxoplasmosis may be helpful diagnostic tools.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Effects of zidovudine treatment on the small intestinal mucosa in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Zidovudine is associated with hematologic toxicity and may also impair the rapidly proliferating intestinal epithelium. However, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection receiving zidovudine gain body weight, indicating improved absorptive function. In the present study, 33 HIV-infected patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who were undergoing duodenoscopy and who had no detectable secondary intestinal pathogens were investigated; 12 of them received zidovudine. HIV antigen p24 was detected in duodenal biopsy specimens by immunohistology in 3 of 12 patients with zidovudine treatment and in 10 of 21 patients without zidovudine treatment. Morphometry of duodenal specimens showed reduced villus surface area (P less than 0.05) without crypt hyperplasia independent of zidovudine therapy and reduced numbers of crypt mitoses in patients with mucosal HIV infection (P less than 0.001) compared with controls. In the duodenal brush border, patients with mucosal HIV infection (P = 0.006) and patients without zidovudine treatment (P = 0.009) had absent lactase/beta-glucosidase activity more frequently than controls, and all HIV-infected patients (P less than 0.025) except zidovudine recipients had decreased alkaline phosphatase activity compared with controls. These findings show a hyporegenerative atrophy of the small intestine and enterocyte dysmaturation associated with mucosal HIV infection. Improved enterocyte maturation, indicated by increased brush border enzyme activity, may contribute to the clinical benefit of HIV-infected patients from zidovudine therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: relevance of infective agents isolated from gastrointestinal tract.

The correlation of gastrointestinal symptoms and infections in 186 consecutive patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection undergoing diagnostic endoscopy (oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, n = 124; colonoscopy, n = 37; both, n = 25) was investigated. Biopsy and stool samples were examined for infective agents. Only weight loss (p = 0.003) and dysphagia (p = 0.027) were more common in patients at stage CDC IV compared with earlier stages. In three of 27 patients at stage II/III and in 93 of 159 patients at stage IV an infective agent was identified in stool or gastrointestinal biopsy specimen (p < 0.001). Cytomegalovirus (n = 35), Candida sp (n = 28), M avium complex (n = 10), and Cryptosporidium (eight) were the most frequent agents detected. At stage IV, diarrhoea was more frequent in infected compared with non-infected patients (p = 0.006); however, an infective agent was also found in 39 of 82 patients at stage IV without diarrhoea. The frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms was not consistently increased in patients harbouring specific infective agents compared with non-infected patients. Our findings indicate that the pathogenic relevance of a gastrointestinal infection in HIV infected patients has to be verified and indirectly support the existence of an HIV associated enteropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Manifestations of AIDS in the gastrointestinal tract].

Besides central nervous system, pulmonary and cutaneous manifestations, the gastrointestinal tract and the hepatobiliary system are major organs in AIDS. Gastrointestinal symptoms due to opportunistic infections or HIV-associated tumours are common in AIDS patients. Nevertheless, a huge variety of endoscopically diagnosed mucosal lesions may not always be correlated to microbiological findings, clinical symptoms and histological aspects. Cytomegalovirus being the most important opportunistic infection in the GI tract in symptomatic AIDS patients, is correlated with erosive and ulcerative lesions, often accompanied by complications like perforation or bleeding. HIV-associated tumours in the GI tract like Non Hodgkin-lymphoma or Kaposi sarcoma may present with atypical endoscopic findings. Diagnostic procedures should include microbiological and histological investigations of biopsies looking for opportunistic infections. Besides, typical immunological changes involving the mucosa as direct target organ of the HIV virus, are important to understand morphological and functional abnormalities in HIV-patients with GI symptoms.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

[Intestinal spirochetosis in HIV infection: prevalence, isolation and morphology of spirochetes].

The prevalence of intestinal spirochaetosis was investigated in 39 HIV-positive homosexual males (mean age 39 [24-65] years) in different stages of HIV infection (3 with the lymphadenopathy syndrome, 8 with AIDS-related complex and 28 with AIDS). Biopsies for cultural and histological demonstration of spirochaetes were obtained during routine ileoscopies. At the time of examination 35 of the 39 patients had intestinal symptoms. 27 patients had had no previous antimicrobial treatment. In 12 of the 27 previously untreated patients with intestinal symptoms spirochaetes were demonstrated, to different extent, from the terminal ileum to the rectum, while the treated group of eight and the control group of four were negative. There were no significant inflammatory changes histologically. Treatment with metronidazole in most cases improved symptoms. In their ultrastructure the microorganisms showed several complete convolutions, cone-shaped cell endings, cell length of 4-18 microns, cell diameter of 0.21-0.35 microns and five subterminal flagella. Morphological considerations favour the inclusion of these microorganisms in the genus Treponema rather than Brachyspira.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1990

[Cerebral and meningeal manifestations of AIDS: sensitivity of CT and T2-weighted MRT (129 patients)].

We studied 129 AIDS patients with suspected or proved intracranial manifestations of the disease. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic sensitivity of unenhanced and contrast enhanced CT and unenhanced T2-weighted MR. In 35/129 patients CT and MR findings were normal. In 37/129 patients equivalent findings were obtained with both methods. Although CT and MR demonstrated intracranial pathology in 25 cases, MR was clearly superior. Six of these cases had solitary lesions in CT, while MR demonstrated multiple lesions. MR detected more foci than CT. In 24 patients with normal CT, MR detected intracranial manifestations of AIDS, namely solitary lesions in 8, multiple lesions in 12 and meningeal alterations in 4 patients. In only 8 patients with normal MR findings, CT revealed pathological contrast enhancement in 2 and parenchymal calcifications in 6 patients. Thus, in 20% of our patients MR but not CT was diagnostic. In another 20% MR provided additional diagnostic information. In conclusion, MR is recommended as the imaging modality of choice in AIDS patients with non-conclusive cranial CT.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

[Spontaneous pneumothorax in AIDS. Observations in 10 patients].

Ten of our AIDS patients developed a unilateral or bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. Four patients previously had pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and one had pulmonary tuberculosis. In six patients the pneumothorax occurred during the acute period of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Five patients were admitted to hospital because of the pneumothorax. The radiological findings varied from a small pneumothorax to almost total pulmonary collapse. Five of the ten patients were discharged after successful treatment of the pneumothorax but, in two, cystic lung segments had to be removed surgically.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Mucosal atrophy is associated with loss of activated T cells in the duodenal mucosa of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and malabsorption are frequent in HIV-infected patients even in the absence of opportunistic infections. In earlier studies we found indications that the gastrointestinal mucosa itself may be affected by HIV. Since there is evidence that the mucosal structure is influenced by changes in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, we have investigated mucosal structure and immune cells in HIV-infected patients. Sixty patients (3 f, 57 m; age 21-61, median 37 years; 11 at CDC stage II or III, 49 at stage IV) with gastrointestinal complaints undergoing upper endoscopy were examined for enteric pathogens. Duodenal biopsies were labelled by immunohistology for HIV antigen p24 and for lymphocyte surface markers; mucosal architecture was studied by three-dimensional morphometry. Biopsies from HIV seronegative patients without abnormal findings served as controls. In 29 patients an enteric pathogen was identified. In 22 patients HIV-infected mononuclear cells were detected in the lamina propria. In the lamina propria CD25+ cells were decreased, CD3+ and CD8+ cells were increased in HIV-infected patients compared with controls, while the numbers of CD4+, Leu8+, and HML-1+ cells, and of macrophages were not different. Patients at stage IV had decreased numbers of CD4+ T cells compared with patients at stage II or III. Villus surface area was reduced in HIV-infected patients compared with controls. Crypt depth was increased in patients with intestinal infection compared with controls while numbers of mitotic figures were normal. Patients without intestinal infection and patients with mucosal HIV-infected cells had decreased numbers of mitotic figures and normal crypt depth compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

[The therapy of Candida esophagitis in AIDS patients with fluconazole].

Esophageal candidosis was found endoscopically in 135 of 496 AIDS patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Vomiting, dysphagia and retrosternal pain were the leading symptoms. Endoscopy showed different stages of esophagitis with Candida patches as early changes up to severe esophagitis with hemorrhage. 36 patients were treated with fluconazole orally or intravenously administered (100 mg per day). In 33 of 36 patients clinical, endoscopic and microbiological results were good with complete cure of the lesions after 7, 14 or 21 days of treatment. In 3 patients with wasting syndrome and severe opportunistic infections a resistance to the drug was discussed because of lack of sufficient therapy results. Maintenance therapy seems to be necessary to prevent relapses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

[Treatment of mild to moderately severe Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with cotrimoxazole versus pentamidine aerosol. Preliminary results of a prospective randomized therapy study].

In an open, prospective, randomized study we compared efficacy and side effects of 8 g/d cotrimoxazole (TMP/SMX) i.v. vs. 600 mg aerosolized pentamidine. 29 of 60 planned case record forms are now evaluated. Efficacy in both groups was comparable, but side effects in the pentamidine arm were very rare (7.2% vs. 40% in the TMP/SMX group). In moderate pneumocystis carinii pneumonia aerosolized pentamidine could be the first choice therapy. Necessary conditions are to use proper inhalation systems, experience, and the treatment of relevant accompaning bacterias, which we found in 80% of pneumocystis carinii positive bronchoalveolar lavages.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1989

Small intestinal structure and function in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): evidence for HIV-induced enteropathy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine small intestinal mucosal structure and function in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive sample study. SETTING: Referral-based medical clinics at a municipal and a university medical center. PATIENTS: Forty-five HIV-infected patients (44 men, 1 woman) with gastrointestinal complaints. INTERVENTIONS: All patients had esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Distal duodenal biopsy samples were examined morphometrically and by quantitative enzyme histochemical techniques. Immunohistologic studies were done to determine whether HIV antigen p24 was present. Biopsy and stool samples were examined for enteric pathogens and patients were evaluated for malabsorption. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Malabsorption was common in HIV-infected patients. In 15 of 38 patients mononuclear cells infected with HIV were found in the mucosa. In 15 of 25 patients there was no detectable lactase (beta-glucosidase) activity in the duodenal brush border; when measurable, lactase (beta-glucosidase) activity was decreased (P less than 0.02). Alkaline phosphatase activity was normal. Crypt depth was greater (P less than 0.05), villous surface area was slightly smaller, and mitotic figures per crypt were not different in HIV-infected patients compared with controls. Patients without additional intestinal infection had a reduced number of mitotic figures per crypt (P less than 0.05) and normal crypt depth. The reduction in mitotic figures was most pronounced in patients with mucosal HIV antigen p24. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV-infected patients with gastrointestinal symptoms show low-grade small bowel atrophy and a maturational defect in enterocytes, which may be caused exclusively by HIV. An additional intestinal infection can mask this mucosal atrophy.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Cryptococcus neoformans in the seminal fluid of an AIDS patient. A contribution to the clinical course of cryptococcosis.

In a 33-year-old HIV-positive homosexual male suffering from unexplained headache, cryptococcosis was diagnosed in a progressive secondary stage. After treatment with the standard combination therapy of amphotericin B + flucytosine for 34 d, the patient was clinically symptom-free and discharged, upon his own request, from the hospital. He remained under ambulatory mycological control. After an interval of 65 d during which the urine had been free from Cryptococcus neoformans (Cr.n.), the fungus could not be isolated from urine but 3 X 10(5) CFUs/ml were found in the seminal fluid. Andrologically, teratospermia and hyposemia were present. There were no clinical signs in the genitourinary tract including the prostate. The significance of ecological niches for Cr.n. colonization of the genitourinary tract after antimycotic therapy is discussed. In such cases, in addition to cultural examination of urine for Cr.n. by the membrane filtration technique (MFT) and Staib agar, an additional cultural examination of seminal fluid is recommended. It is also proposed to pay more attention to Cr.n. in andrological examinations. Special regard should be given to a possible occurrence of Cr.n. in the seminal fluid of AIDS patients. In cytology of the seminal fluid, use of the Giemsa stain is unsuitable for the purpose of Cr.n. detection. For this reason, it should be supplemented by PAS staining.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗