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H Jablonowski

Publications and source records attributed to H Jablonowski.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Antiretroviral therapy. Update at the beginning of a new century].

For antiretroviral therapy (ART) nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), protease inhibitors (PI) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) are available, and are used in combination treatments. The use of PI is associated with new side effects, in particular affecting lipid metabolism. The objective of treatment continues to be a maximum reduction of the viral load. The question whether to treat the HIV early on or later is under controversial discussion. Simplified therapeutic regimens making possible single or twice-daily doses and the use of small numbers of tablets represent a major advance in ART.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[The future of HIV therapy. Research pipelines are filled with options].

Following the first international conference in 1999, twice as many new antiretroviral substances are in the early clinical or preclinical phase of investigation as are currently approved for ART in Germany. These data are almost certainly not complete, and the number of "candidates" will be larger rather than smaller. Nevertheless they send a clear message. Antiretroviral treatments guided by therapeutic pessimism are anything but up to date. This applies to inadequate dual treatments or the delayed use of ART. The plethora of new medications with no, or virtually no, cross-resistance vis-a-vis previously approved substances renders in admissible any reasons advanced for delayed or reserved treatment. The present article has been written also for those therapists who, for the reasons set out above, have so far greatly delayed, or have provided only "half-hearted", treatment. In the near future, ART will comprise not only the inhibition of HIV replication, but will also deal with immune reconstruction. As in the last 15 years, antiretroviral therapeutic strategies will be the signposts and pacemakers for the treatment of other infectious diseases, too. Not least of the conditions included are such important chronic viral ailments as hepatitis B or C, which have just successfully crossed the combination therapy threshold. It is to be hoped that a maximum number of the substances presented here will pass the proving period leading a full-blown antiretroviral medication.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

[Antiviral therapy of hepatitis C].

Hepatitis C is one of the world's leading infectious diseases. The interferon-ribavirin combination therapy is the new standard for the treatment of hepatitis C in naive and relapse patients. Virological sustained response rates can be more than doubled by the IFN-ribavirin combination therapy compared to IFN-monotherapy and treatment duration can be reduced to six months in many cases. The IFN-ribavirin combination therapy has a high relative benefit in patients with unfavorable predictive parameters like high viral load, HCV genotype-1 infection and compensated liver cirrhosis. Anemia is the most important side effect of the guanosin analogue ribavirin. There are no official therapeutic recommendations for non-responder patients at present. These patients should be treated within controlled clinical trials. Monotherapy with PEG(pegylated)-interferons and combination therapies with PEG-interferons and ribavirin are the most promising future therapeutic options.

Antiviral Agents↗

Comparative evaluation of two branched-DNA human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA quantification assays with lower detection limits of 50 and 500 copies per milliliter.

We have comparatively evaluated Quantiplex version 3.0 and version 2. 0 on 133 plasma samples and a repetitive dilution series. Version 3. 0 yielded higher human immunodeficiency virus RNA values, and the ratio of version 3.0 results to version 2.0 results decreased from 3. 47 below 1,000 copies/ml to 1.97 above 50,000 copies/ml [linear regression, log (version 3.0) = 0.915 + 0.871 x log (version 2.0); r(2) = 0.952].

DNA Probes↗

Amprenavir in combination with lamivudine and zidovudine versus lamivudine and zidovudine alone in HIV-1-infected antiretroviral-naive adults. Amprenavir PROAB3001 International Study Team.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the antiviral activity and safety of a new protease inhibitor, amprenavir (141W94) in combination with lamivudine and zidovudine, versus lamivudine and zidovudine alone in HIV-1 infected, antiretroviral-naive subjects. DESIGN: Subjects (n=232) with a CD4 T cell count of > or =200 cells/mm3, plasma HIV-1 RNA levels of > or =10000 copies/ml, and < or =4 weeks of prior nucleoside antiretroviral therapy, were stratified according to baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA level (10000-30000; 30000-100000; or >100000 copies/ml). Subjects received double-blind treatment with either 1200 mg amprenavir twice daily in combination with lamivudine (150 mg twice daily) and zidovudine (300 mg twice daily) (amprenavir/lamivudine/zidovudine) or matched placebo, lamivudine and zidovudine for 16 weeks. Thereafter, subjects with confirmed plasma HIV-1 RNA levels of > or =400 copies/ml could add open-label amprenavir or switch to other antiretrovirals and continue treatment for up to a minimum of 48 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was defined as the proportion of subjects with plasma HIV-1 RNA of <400 copies/ml at 48 weeks. RESULTS: At 48 weeks, a significantly greater proportion of amprenavir/lamivudine/zidovudine subjects had plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <400 copies/ml than lamivudine/ zidovudine subjects in the overall population: 41 versus 3% (intent-to-treat missing equals failure analysis) (P<0.001); 93 versus 42% (as-treated analysis) (P<0.001); and within each of the three randomization strata (P<0.001). Subjects on amprenavir/lamivudine/zidovudine experienced longer time to event (permanent discontinuation of randomized therapy or viral rebound) than those on lamivudine/zidovudine (median of 33 versus 13 weeks; P<0.001). A significantly greater incidence of drug-related nausea, vomiting, rash and oral/perioral paresthesia was observed with amprenavir/lamivudine/zidovudine than with lamivudine/zidovudine. CONCLUSIONS: Amprenavir, in combination with lamivudine and zidovudine, has potent and durable antiviral activity in antiretroviral-naive subjects over 48 weeks. Amprenavir was safe and generally well tolerated.

Adolescent↗

Therapy of special HIV-associated diseases: HCV-HIV-co-infection and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma - official satellite to the 7th European Conference on Clinical Aspects and Treatment of HIV-infection, October 23, 1999 in Lisbon, Portugal.

BACKGROUND: In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), certain complications of HIV-disease as e.g. opportunistic infections and Kaposi s sarcoma (KS) have significantly diminished. New insights in pathological pathways revealed the role of co-viruses as HHV-8 and HCV so that in our days AIDS-associated KS and chronical hepatitis C (CHC) in HIV-infected persons can be considered as the result of opportunistic infections with HHV-8 or HCV respectively. - Though the overall incidence of AIDS-KS is declining, it remains as a reason of severe disease complication and fatal outcome. Actual therapeutic strategies have to be evaluated regarding safety and efficacy as a major option, while cost-effectiveness of treatment and quality of life aspects for the patient must also be included to assess a successful disease management within the up to now merely palliative setting. HIV-infection evidently triggers the natural course of CHC in terms of more progressive liver disease. Otherwise there seems to be no clinical benefit of HAART on CHC. Until recently IFN-alfa treatment was the only therapy available for patients with CHC. As initial therapy with a combination of IFN-alfa and ribavirin turned out to be more effective than IFN-monotherapy in HCV-infected persons, it has now to be considered to include anti-HCV-combination treatment into the therapeutic program of HIV-HCV-coinfected patients under HAART. - Within the 7th European Conference on Clinical Aspects and Treatment of HIV-Infection, which took place in Lisbon from October 23 to 27 1999, a satellite symposium was organized to evaluate actual treatment options in the management of special HIV-associated complications focussing on AIDS-KS and HCV-HIV-coinfection. METHODS: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of IFN-alfa-2b and ribavirin combination therapy in patients with CHC, a total of 1773 treatment-naive patients was recruited in two phase III clinical trials. They were randomized in 4 treatment schedules to receive IFN-alfa-2b plus ribavirin or placebo for 24 weeks or 48 weeks respectively. Cost-effectiveness data compared treatment with liposomal daunorubicin and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in AIDS-KS-patients within two phase III studies. The assumptions were a comparable efficacy, gastrointestinal toxicity, and frequency of opportunistic infections (OI). A quality-of-life-study on KS-treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, Caelyx(R)) was based on a phase III study with an overall median survival of 160 days for the patients, who completed questionnaires with 30 items specific for HIV-related diseases. The health-related quality-of life (HRQL) assessment and analysis includes 11 domains, in which improvements were calculated within a multiple analysis to be significant if they are higher than 10 (at a 0-100 scale). RESULTS: In 1775 treatment-naive patients with CHC, response rates to a combination therapy of IFN-alfa-2b with ribavirin was significantly higher in all patient groups with more than 60% of sustained virological response in patients with genotype 2 and 3, while patients with genotype 1 (poorer prognosis) benefit from extended duration from 24 to 48 weeks (17% versus 29% of sustained virological response). - Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, Caelyx(R)) in the treatment of AIDS-related KS is more effective and less toxic than BV or ABV. Cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that PLD is preferable over liposomal daunorubicin, BV and ABV. Regarding the HRQL-assessment, PLD came out to be superior in 9 of 11 domains tested, with the greatest improvement in general health and pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: As the combination therapy of IFN-alfa-2b with ribavirin is the first treatment in CHC, there is an urgent need to consider the therapeutical strategies in this field in HCH-HIV coinfected patients. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in the Federal Republic of Germany in the era of changing antiretroviral therapy - IDKF 13 -. German AIDS Study Group (GASG/IdKF).

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most common AIDS defining diagnoses. METHODS: In a prospective observational trial all cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) were evaluated. Patients with and without PCP-prophylaxis were compared for symptoms, efficacy, side effects and mortality at week 4 and 26. RESULTS: 293 patients developed a PCP episode. Patients with no prophylaxis had a significant lower CD4 cell count and a more severe clinical status at time of diagnosis. This was pronounced in the group with first positive HIV test at time of diagnosis. There was no difference in the rate of successful treatment between both groups. At week four a tendency to a better survival in the group with prophylaxis was observed, however this changed to a trend to a better survival at week 26 for the group without prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: Even in the era of highly active antiretroviral treatment many patients present with PCP. Nearly 60% of patients presented without antiretroviral treatment or PCP-prophylaxis. Nearly 25% of all patients had their first HIV-test at time of PCP diagnosis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Prior cytomegalovirus infection and the risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: Restenosis is a common problem after all revascularization procedures in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. Reactivated human cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been detected in tissues of restenotic vascular lesions and was hypothesized to be a contributing pathogenic factor. Recent data suggest an association of restenosis after optimal coronary atherectomy with CMV serostatus, and a possible role of antiviral therapy was discussed. We therefore tested the hypothesis that prior CMV infection might be a risk factor for restenosis after conventional coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed 92 consecutive patients who had been admitted for control angiography after previous PTCA within a mean interval of 6 months. Anti-CMV antibodies were measured as an indicator of prior CMV infection and latency. The coronary angiograms before PTCA, directly after, and 6 months later were analyzed quantitatively. Sixty-five percent of the patients were CMV-positive. Before PTCA, the degree (mean+/-SD) of stenosis was 69+/-10% in CMV-positive and 68+/-8.3% in CMV-negative subjects. PTCA resulted in a residual stenosis of 39% in both groups. After 6 months, the late losses of luminal diameter in the CMV-positive and -negative groups were 11+/-13% and 12+/-15%, respectively (P=0.658). In an ANCOVA with 25 potential risk factors for restenosis, CMV serostatus was not significantly associated with restenosis development. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that prior CMV infection, in contrast to optimal atherectomy, is not associated with chronic restenosis after conventional coronary balloon angioplasty. The results do not support a possible benefit from antiviral therapy.

Adult↗

Stavudine and the peripheral nerve in HIV-1 infected patients.

Stavudine (2',3'-didehydro-3'deoxythymidine) is a pyrimidine analogue that may be of great value in combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for treating patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). We assessed potential neurotoxic side effects by comparing peripheral nerve function in patients receiving ART including stavudine (n = 107) with that of patients receiving ART with zidovudine (n = 103). A cross-sectional analysis of electroneurographic data revealed no significant differences. In a follow-up examination of 31 patients newly started on ART with stavudine we observed no significant effects of the drug on electrophysiological measures. At a daily dose of 1.0 mg/kg the incidence of peripheral nervous system disease in our patients was about 10%. Repeated follow-up analysis of 13 patients on stavudine showed a significant reduction in sural nerve amplitude. Quantitative sensory testing in 13 patients revealed no systematic effect of stavudine on small nerve fibers. Peripheral nerve function in HIV-1 seropositive patients on ART with stavudine did not differ significantly from that in patients on ART with zidovudine. Therefore stavudine at a daily dose of 1.0 mg/kg is an alternative for patients who do not tolerate, or who have become resistant to zidovudine and can be recommended as a first-line drug in combination ART.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Enhancing the response to interferon-alpha.

BACKGROUND: Though initially recognized as antiviral agents, it was soon demonstrated that certain neoplasms were particularly sensitive to interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). Indeed, the initial success of systemic IFN-alpha treatment in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) occurred before identification of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and in the absence of any coherent view of KS pathogenesis. With a more comprehensive understanding how KS develops and which circumstances provide an increased virulence of this neoplasm in HIV-infected persons, a more subtle rationale for IFN-alpha treatment arose regarding the disorder of the endogenous IFN-system in HIV-positive individuals. Until recently IFN-alpha was the only therapy available for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). However, no more than 30% of these patients show a sustained virological response. Initial therapy with a combination therapy of IFN-alpha and ribavirin turned out to be more effective than treatment with IFN-alpha alone. To ameliorate response rates in antiviral IFN-therapy a profound understanding of viral dynamics, as well as immunological conditions associated with viral persistence, seems to be essential. Within a conference of the European Society of Clinical Virology (ESCV), which took place in Hamburg from August 30 to September 2, 1998, and was entitled 'Progress in Clinical Virology IV', a satellite symposium was organized to evaluate the clinical results of special antiviral treatment options with IFN-alpha, to analyze treatment failures with this cytokine and to ameliorate future strategies of IFN-alpha therapy. It focussed on HIV-related complications as coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and AIDS-KS, respectively. METHODS: A kinetic model of HCV infection based on principles established in studying HIV-1 infection was presented which is predictive for the outcome of IFN-alpha treatment. It involves different rates of velocity and compares the rates of acute clearance after different dosages of IFN-alpha application. Using the hypothesis to fit the changes in serum HCV RNA measured in a set of patients, it was found that 5 mIU daily dosing on average blocks 81% of HCV production/release, whereas 10 or 15 mIU blocks about 95% of HCV production/release. RESULTS: Only recently clinical data revealed a greater benefit of combination therapy with IFN-alpha and ribavirin compared to IFN-alpha alone in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In 345 CHC patients relapsing after pretreatment with IFN-alpha monotherapy, sustained response was achieved in a 10-fold higher degree with a combination of IFN and ribavirin compared to patients retreated with IFN alone. In 1775 treatment-naive patients with CHC, response rates to the combination therapy was significantly higher in all patient groups with more than 60% of sustained virological response in patients with genotype 2 and 3, while patients with genotype 1 (poorer prognosis) benefit from extended combination treatment duration from 24 to 48 weeks (17 versus 29% of sustained virological response), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As viral dynamics on one side and host immune response on the other feature as two landmarks on which the manifestation of viral persistence and chronic viral infections is established, some similarities of HCV and HIV disease are striking. An unusual endogenous IFN-alpha system is associated with both infections and is a negative prognostic factor to response to treatment with IFN-alpha in CHC as well as AIDS-KS. The consequences for treatment options with IFN are a combination with ribavirin in CHC and a graduated systemic treatment schedule in AIDS-KS starting with IFN-treatment in early disease followed by chemotherapy in advanced stages of KS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Long-term course and outcome in AIDS patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis.

OBJECTIVES: We compared clinical long-term course and outcome in all AIDS patients admitted to our outpatient department from January, 1989 to June, 1998 with toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) as first AIDS-defining infection (n= 106) and in 106 patients with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) as first AIDS-defining disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 2 groups were matched with respect to age, sex, risk group, degree of immunodeficiency as measured by CD4 cell counts and duration of HIV-1-positivity. TE was diagnosed radiologically and by response to treatment. RESULTS: Forty-three TE patients surviving the first TE symptoms > 14 months developed dementive symptoms, leucoencephalopathy in imaging procedures and died from dementia. In contrast only 5 patients surviving PCP for an equally long period showed dementive symptoms. CONCLUSION: Cerebral infections like toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) may negatively influence HIV-1-activity so far latent in the brain.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

[Cystic liver tumor resembling echinococcosis].

The hepatobiliary cytadenoma or -carcinoma is a cystic, multilocular, intrahepatic tumor in the liver affecting mainly middle-aged people. In most cases hepatobiliary cystadenomas or -carcinomas cannot be definitely differentiated by sonography and CT from other cystic lesions in the liver. Resection of the tumorous parts of the liver as early as possible is essential for the prognosis for the patients because malignant transformation of the lesions might occur.

Adult↗

[Sheep, chills and "doughnut granuloma"--an atypical course of Coxiella infection].

Q fever usually presents with high fever, headache and an atypical pneumonia. A case report of a 47-year-old patient with an atypical course of a coxiella infection is described. The dominant clinical symptoms were a liver and bone marrow involvement, whereas pulmonary manifestations were absent. The diagnosis of Q fever in this patient was based on the detection of cytoplasmatic inclusion bodies in macrophages and granulocytes. Furthermore fibrin-ring granulomas ("doughnut lesions") were found in liver tissue specimen and epitheloid-cell granulomas were detected in bone marrow specimen. Complement-fixation antibody titers and PCR resulted unspecific or negative on different occasions during the course of the disease. A confirmation of the diagnosis by complement-fixation antibody test was possible only after recovery from the disease. In Q fever with atypical clinical and serological presentation the screening of blood cells for inclusion bodies and liver or bone marrow tissue for granulomas may be important for establishing the diagnosis.

Animals↗

Randomized comparative trial of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin versus bleomycin and vincristine in the treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. International Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Study Group.

PURPOSE: Cytotoxic chemotherapy is frequently required for the more severe manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Combinations of bleomycin and vincristine (BV) or BV with the addition of doxorubicin (ABV) are the most commonly used regimens against which new treatments may be compared. We report a multicenter phase III study that compared pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) to the BV combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized study that compared PLD 20 mg/m2 with a combination of bleomycin 15 IU/m2 and vincristine 2 mg in 241 patients with HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Both regimens were administered by intravenous infusion every 3 weeks for six cycles. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients received PLD and 120 patients the BV combination. The response to PLD was superior to BV: 58.7% versus 23.3% (P < .001). Patients who were randomized to receive BV, however, were more likely to terminate treatment early because of an adverse event (26.7% v 10.7%), and fewer completed the full six cycles of treatment (30.8% v 55.4%). Treatment with BV was associated with a significantly higher incidence of peripheral neuropathy (P < .001), whereas PLD treatment was more commonly associated with neutropenia and delays in receiving treatment (P < or = .001). CONCLUSION: Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is an effective treatment for HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma with a higher response rate than the BV combination. It is well tolerated but more myelosuppressive.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Results and complications of fiber bronchoscopy in HIV positive patients].

Fibreoptic bronchoscopy is an established diagnostic procedure for HIV-associated pulmonary infections. We retrospectively evaluated the diagnostic effectivity and safety of fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in 153 patients with late-stage HIV infection and clinical signs of pulmonary infection or abnormal chest radiograph. Bronchoscopy leads to diagnosis in 82.4% and changed therapy in 54%. 45 patients (30%) were found to have pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), the most common bronchoscopic finding, followed by bacterial lung disease (29.3%). BAL had a sensitivity of 78% for PCP. Diagnostic yield of BAL for PCP was higher in patients without previous treatment (positive results in 82%) with regard to PCP independend of the prior treatment. Serious complication occurred in 22 cases (pneumothorax: 6 (3.9%), bleeding: 12 (7.8%), hypoxaemia: 4 (2.6%)). High serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) correlated with pulmonary complications like pneumothorax. Age, sex and kind of pulmonary infection did not influence complication rates. 6 (3.9%) episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax occurred in the further course, 3 of them concurrently with PCP or prior history of PCP. We conclude that fibreoptic bronchoscopy is of great value for diagnosing pulmonary infection in HIV-seropositive patients. TBB provides incremental diagnostic information not available from BAL, especially in patients pretreated with cotrimoxazol or pentamidin. For that reason we believe that TBB should be performed in these patients.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Perioperative therapy of HIV infections].

A meta-analysis of the literature demonstrates high operation complication rates in HIV-positive patients. Own experience connected with a general hospital in San Francisco, University of California, indicates that such an analysis provides the surgeon with the possibility of optimizing the treatment of HIV-positive patients in the perioperative phase.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗