Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Arrizabalaga

Publications and source records attributed to J Arrizabalaga.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Pulmonary cavitation lesions in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus: an analysis of a series of 78 cases].

BACKGROUND: To assess the clinical, radiologic and microbiological features of lung cavitation and HIV infection. Evaluation of the differences related to this disease in the last years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients with lung cavitation and HIV infection admitted at our hospital from January 1989 until December 1994 and prospective study of all patients with the same characteristics during 1995 and 1996. Lung cavitation was defined as any parenchymal lesion, with air content, visible in a simple X-ray and greater than 1 cm of diameter. Criteria for confirmed, probable or possible diagnosis were defined. RESULTS: 78 cases of lung cavitation have been identified in 73 patients. The radiologic patterns included unilobar and multilobular involvement in 31 and 47 cases, respectively. Cavities were multiple and single in 40 and 38 cases respectively. Findings with fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) were diagnostic in 11 out of 14 cases. A clinical diagnosis was performed in all 78 cases, with microbiological results in 69 cases (88.5%): Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 20, Pneumocystis carinii in nine, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in nine, Staphylococcus aureus in eight (5 endocarditis with cavitary septic emboli), Rhodococcus equi in six, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in three, Salmonella enteritidis in three, Cryptococcus neoformans in two, Aspergillus fumigatus in two and others in 7 cases. Confirmed, probable and possible diagnosis was considered in 54, 15 and 9 cases, respectively. Thirteen episodes of spontaneous pneumothorax were found. CONCLUSIONS: The lung cavitation rate is low, compared with the number of admissions related to HIV infection; nevertheless, many of them are in close relationship with HIV infection, and most of them are caused by treatable infections. It is important to know the clinical and radiological characteristics, in order to establish an early diagnosis and an appropriate therapy. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is becoming an important cause of lung cavitation. In our series, spontaneous pneumo-thorax was not related to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in 61.5% of cases.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[The usefulness of the desensitization to rifampin in the treatment of mycobacterial disease in patients with AIDS].

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions to rifampin are relatively uncommon, but they may result in cessation of therapeutic medications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report our experience with oral desensitization protocol to rifampin in a group of 35 HIV-positive patients with mycobacterial disease who had some hypersensitivity reaction to this drug. RESULTS: Adverse reactions with this protocol were few and easily treated. CONCLUSIONS: Oral desensitization to rifampin is safe and effective, allowing some of these patients (60%) to reintroduce the drug and to reduce the time of treatment.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Brucellosis in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

Brucellosis has been described rarely in patients infected with HIV, despite the fact that eradication of intracellular brucellae is largely dependent on cell-mediated immunity. The characteristics of all patients with HIV infection and brucellosis seen in seven Spanish hospitals are reported. Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, 12 HIV-infected patients were diagnosed with brucellosis (8 with cultures positive for Brucella spp., 4 with high anti-Brucella antibody titers). Most patients were male and intravenous drug users. Eleven patients had no symptoms of HIV infection when first diagnosed with brucellosis and had relatively preserved cellular immunity (median CD4 + cell count 588, range 136-1006). There was a clear epidemiologic antecedent for acquisition of brucellosis in 11 patients. Clinical symptoms included fever, arthromyalgia, and sweating in all patients; four patients presented with focal disease. All patients had high agglutinin titers, and eight of nine had cultures positive for Brucella. Therapy with doxycycline and streptomycin was curative in all cases. Two patients experienced a recurrence of symptoms after initial treatment, although no microbiological relapses were documented after a median follow-up period of 18 months. HIV infection does not seem to increase the incidence of brucellosis. Since most cases occur in asymptomatic patients with relatively preserved immunity, the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, response to therapy, and outcome are similar to those observed in non-HIV infected patients.

Adult↗

Candidal meningitis in HIV-infected patients: treatment with fluconazole.

Although mucocutaneous candidiasis is a common occurrence in HIV-infected patients, candidal meningitis is uncommon. We report 3 cases of candidal meningitis in HIV-positive patients, all intravenous drug abusers, and we discuss the clinical course and outcome, the treatment with fluconazole and possible prophylaxis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Prospective 3-month study of intravascular catheter complications in HIV-infected patients: relation between phlebitis and infection].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the etiology of phlebitis (chemical or infectious) and the prevalence of infections related to intravascular catheters (IRIC) in patients with HIV infection admitted to a 22-bed Infectious Disease Unit with a high rate of HIV infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 3-month prospective study from November 1, 1994 to January 31, 1995 was carried out following a formula for data collection of all the intravenous catheters used during that time period. Cultures of the catheters withdrawn on Wednesdays and those with signs of phlebitis were performed. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-two intravenous catheters in 71 patients with HIV infection with a mean age of 37 years (range: 21-73) and mean hospital stay of 10.2 days were reported. During the study period 42 phlebitis were produced, of which 37 catheters (7 central and 30 peripheral) were processed. Of the 37 phlebitis processed, 29 (78.9%) were considered to be of physiochemical origin. Of the 21 catheters withdrawn Wednesday, 18 were processed, 8 with phlogotic signs, 2 with IRCI, equivalent to 1.9 IRCI/100 days of catheterization. During the study period no local or severe systemic infections related to the catheter were reported. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the organism involved in all the cases of IRCI. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high number of immunosuppressed patients in related to HIV infection, a greater incidence of IRCI was not found in these patients. The most frequent cause of phlebitis by catheter was of chemical origin.

Adult↗

AIDS-associated cholangiopathy in a series of ten patients.

OBJECTIVE: To present the clinical, biological, radiologic and cholangiographic findings in patients with clinical suspicion of AIDS associated cholangiopathy in our hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have revised the clinical charts of 10 patients admitted in our hospital from 1991 to 1995. RESULTS: Ultrasonography and/or abdominal CT were carried out on all the patients. Biliary tract dilatation was observed in 11 cases. From the 12 ERCP, biliary tract was fulfilled in 11. In 5 cases papillary stenosis was diagnosed, sclerosing cholangitis in 2, normal biliary tract in 3 and acute cholangitis in one case. Sphincterotomy was done in 5 patients, with clinical improvement. In one case, another sphincterotomy was needed because of reestenosis. CONCLUSIONS: ERCP is very important in the diagnosis of AIDS associated cholangiopathy. Endoscopic sphincterotomy relieves abdominal pain in these patients. Cholangiopathy occurs in very immunocompromised HIV positive patients. Survival is very short.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of infections caused by herpesvirus and JC virus].

During the last two years important advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease have occurred. Several studies have suggested that biologic markers of CMV viremia (PCR, branched DNA and pp65 antigenemia) might be useful both to stratify the risk of developing CMV disease and to follow the response of CMV retinitis to therapy. It has been shown that patients who are plasma CMV PCR positive have a risk of developing CMV disease three times higher than patients who are plasma CMV PCR negative. In addition, for each log10 increase of the CMV viral load there is a 3-fold higher risk of developing CMV disease. Currently, therapeutic options for induction treatment of CMV retinitis (CMVR) are: i.v. ganciclovir (GCV), i.v. foscarnet, i.v. cidofovir or GCV intraocular implant combined with oral GCV. For maintenance therapy options are: i.v. GCV (3, 5 or 7 days per week), oral GCV (only for peripheral retinitis), i.v. foscarnet (daily), i.v. cidofovir (biweekly) and GCV intraocular implant (replaced every 6-8 months) combined with oral GCV. There is currently enough evidence to allow the diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) based on the finding of JC virus DNA in CSF by PCR. There are still no drugs with proven clinical efficacy against JC virus but the possibility that HAART treatments might improve the control of this disease appear promising.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗