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Biomedical subjects

C Courpotin

Publications and source records attributed to C Courpotin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Correlation between HIV provirus burden and in utero transmission.

OBJECTIVE: No predictive parameters of in utero or perinatal vertical transmission of HIV to newborns are known at present. Vertical transmission may be related to several biological parameters of maternal HIV infection: (1) immunological parameters (neutralizing antibodies); (2) the concentration of viral particles and/or infected cells; and (3) the selection of HIV subspecies of particular cellular tropism. The present study was designed to examine the relationship between cellular viral burden and transmission, and between maternal viral burden and CD4+ cell count and clinical status at delivery. METHOD: We investigated mother-to-infant HIV-1 transmission at delivery in a cohort of 51 pairs of mothers and newborns. Twelve infants were HIV-infected, as determined by successive polymerase chain reaction and culture determinations within the first 6 months of life, and nine of these were diagnosed as HIV-infected during the first week of life. We determined peripheral blood mononuclear cell proviral DNA burden using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Polymerase chain reaction was performed in the HIV-1 gag gene, using [32P]-end-labelled primers. External standard DNA samples were from the 85-14 F2 cell line, which contains a unique defective proviral DNA genome. RESULTS: There was a linear relationship between the logarithms of c.p.m. and the number of HIV-1 DNA copies. CONCLUSION: We have previously reported that the number of HIV provirus copies in maternal blood cells is related to transmission of the virus. Quantification of the HIV provirus by polymerase chain reaction may be used as a predictive parameter of vertical transmission if accompanied by an exhaustive clinical and biological follow-up during pregnancy.

Base Sequence↗

[Role of neutralizing antibodies in protection of the fetal from an HIV positive mother].

The goal of this study is to compare serum Titers of Neutralizing antibodies in HIV 1 infected mothers to the virological status of their newborns. 38 infant-mothers couples were tested. Serum Neutralizing antibodies Titers of the mothers were tested the day of birth. Virological status of new borns was determined by peripheric blood mononuclear cells culture and PCR. 18 Newborns were HIV 1 infected. In 9 cases mothers had no neutralizing antibodies: 7 newborns were HIV 1 infected. In 4 cases mothers had high level of neutralizing antibodies (< 640): none of the newborns was infected. In 25 cases mothers had intermediate value of neutralizing antibodies (between 80 and 320): 11 newborns were HIV 1 infected. Women with neutralizing antibodies to HIV 1, were less likely to transmit HIV 1 to their infants than pregnant women without neutralizing antibodies. Serum neutralizing antibodies titers of pregnant women might be of predictive value in vertical transmission of HIV 1. Further investigations are needed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Management of HIV-seropositive newborn infants. Personal experience apropos of 179 cases].

A follow-up study of 179 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive neonates born from HIV seropositive mothers is reported. At the time of the present study, HIV infection resulting from maternofetal transmission was found in 50 cases, while 108 infants were not infected; HIV infection remained uncertain in 16 cases; 5 infants were lost for follow-up. Out of the 50 infected cases, 20 were less than two-year old, 17 were 2-5 year old and 13 were older than 5 years. Very few remained asymptomatic after the age of 6 months, the most common symptoms being adenopathies and/or hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly. Twenty-six had an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Six died, from pneumocystosis (3), cytomegalovirus infection (1) and septicemia (2). Virus culture and polymerase chain reaction were the most efficient laboratory methods for early diagnosis of HIV infection, both being positive in more than 95% of the infected cases after the age of 3 months. A close clinical and biological supervision is recommended in these infants and children because of the permanent threat of infectious diseases in relation to their immunodeficiency. Treatment associates: 1) antiviral therapy with AZT as soon as the HIV infection is diagnosed; 2) primary prophylaxis against pneumocystosis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol; 3) IV immunoglobulins in the case of repeated bacterial infection; 4) regular evaluation of the nutritional status and psychological assistance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Acute anemia caused by hemoperitoneum disclosing hemorrhagic disease of the newborn].

A neonate who was not given prophylactic vitamin K injection was admitted with acute anemia and hemoperitoneum. The evolution was favorable with medical treatment only. Vitamin K deficiency appears to be the main cause of this hemorrhagic disease. There is a controversy on this subject, as hepatic deficiency seems to be involved in certain cases.

Acute Disease↗

Complete iodide trapping defect in two cases with congenital hypothyroidism: adaptation of thyroid to huge iodide supplementation.

Two cases of congenital defect in iodide trapping mechanism are related. The absence of thyroid and gastric concentration of 99mTcO4 led to the diagnosis. The study of saliva and gastric:serum concentration ratios confirmed the complete defect. The kinetics of radioiodine studied by external detection showed an early simultaneous decay in the thyroid, the stomach and the left ventricle. Thyroid accumulation of 131I, demonstrated by camera imaging, was estimated to be 0.1% at 48 h. It probably originated from simple diffusion. Iodide supplementation was progressively increased to 4.5 g and 10 g day-1 respectively. It resulted in a normalization of all parameters. Huge doses of iodide did not result in any evidence of hyperthyroidism as TSH rose normally after TRH. Intermittent iodide supplementation in one case could not maintain euthyroidism longer than a few weeks. Daily treatment, therefore, seems necessary.

Adolescent↗

[Auto-immune haemolytic anaemia and mediastinal dysembryoma in a 6-year-old child (author's transl)].

In a six-year-old girl, suffering from an auto-immune haemolytic anaemia, routine radiological examination revealed the presence of a mediastinal tumour which was removed surgically and proved to be a multiple tissue polycystic dysembryoma. Haemolysis and signs of anti-erythrocyte auto-immunisation disappeared after the operation and total and stable cure obtained with a follow-up of 15 months. The target antigen of the anti-erythrocyte autoantibody could not be found within the tumour. However, the latter contained lymphoid tissue and a considerable quantity of antibody. Although indirect, these findings offer arguments in favour of the secretion of autoantibodies by the dysembryoma.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune↗

[Neonatal hypothyroidism induced by the ingestion of potassium iodide during pregnancy (author's transl)].

This concerns a case of an infant born with goiter and hypothyroidism whose mother had taken potassium iodide during pregnancy in the form of a respiratory eupneic syrup. Laboratory tests revealed the etiology of the goiter by demonstrating that it concerned a transitory, acquired hormone production disturbance. The tests gave an indication of the course of the condition, leading to substitute hormone therapy being stopped after six weeks. The euthyroidism was then checked on two occastions.

Asthma↗