HIV-2-associated AIDS in the United States. The first case

HIV type 2 demyelinating encephalomyelitis

A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 2 (HIV-2)-infected African patient developed inflammatory demyelinating lesions of the optic nerves, spinal cord, and brain, which coincided with a decreasing CD4 cell count and with active HIV-2 replication. This case provides evidence that HIV-2 is neurotropic, extends the range of known HIV-2-associated neurological complications, and confirms the overlap between the neurological complications of HIV type 1 and HIV-2 infection.

(A3) HIV Phenotypes, oral lesions, and management of HIV-related disease

Workshop participants discussed: the role of HIV subtypes in disease; the treatment of oral candidiasis; the relationship between and among viral load, CD4+ counts, oral candidiasis and oral hairy leukoplakia, pigmentation; and the development of a reliable oral index to predict disease progression. Regarding HIV, the literature revealed that Type I (HIV-I), in particular group M, is involved in the majority (90%) of documented infections, and groups N and O to a lesser extent. Viral envelope diversity led to the subclassification of the virus into nine subtypes, or clades-A-D, F-H, J, and K-each dominating in different geographical areas. HIV-2, currently occurring mostly in West Africa, appears to be less virulent. No evidence could be produced of any direct impact of type, subtype, or clade on oral lesions, and participants believed that further research is not feasible. Oral candidiasis in patients from resource-poor countries should be prevented. When the condition does occur, it should be treated until all clinical symptoms disappear. Oral rinsing with an antimicrobial agent was suggested to prevent recurrence of the condition, to reduce cost, and to prevent the development of antifungal resistance. Lawsone methyl ether, isolated from a plant (Rhinacanthus nasutus leaves) in Thailand, is a cost-effective mouthrinse with potent antifungal activity. Evidence from a carefully designed prospective longitudinal study on a Mexican cohort of HIV/AIDS patients, not receiving anti-retroviral treatment, revealed that the onset of oral candidiasis and oral hairy leukoplakia was heralded by a sustained reduction of CD4+, with an associated sharp increase in viral load. Analysis of the data obtained from a large cohort of HIV/AIDS patients in India could not establish a systemic or local cause of oral melanin pigmentation. A possible explanation was a dysfunctional immune system that increased melanin production. However, longitudinal studies may contribute to a better understanding of this phenomenon. Finally, a development plan was presented that could provide a reliable prediction of disease progression. To be useful in developing countries, the index should be independent of costly blood counts and viral load.

Infection with HIV-1 group O

The author presents the case history of the first patient with HIV-1 group O reported in the United States. The various human retroviruses and their clinical syndromes are described and the increasing diversity of HIV-1 strains and their spread are documented. The discovery of the divergent group O and its spread from endemic areas are discussed. The clinician is alerted to the pitfalls of laboratory diagnosis and is advised to seek special studies when clinical findings and epidemiologic history suggest the possibility of HIV infection.

Quo vadis: perinatal AIDS issues--2004

The HIV problem will inexorably increase over the next decade, with an increasing proportionate impact upon women and children over the next decade. HIV will become endemic, essentially worldwide. Some regions in the developed world may be relatively spared if current trends continue. This may reduce the willingness to expend necessary resources, particularly if trends toward increasing isolationism continue. There are already signs of a world becoming "bored" with AIDS and the chronicity of a difficult problem. This engenders an atmosphere ripe for increasing discrimination, with the development of loopholes in protective legislation. Already in the United States, some lawsuits concerning health care access among employees have been decided in the employer's favor, permitting them to restrict access to health insurance, despite other regulations which might have protected such workers. Similarly, some HIV-infected health care workers have been dismissed or lost their privileges in the 1990s, despite passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as preceding legislation. It remains to be seen how society will cope with these complicated issues. The view of AIDS in 2004 presented above is pessimistic. There are some important rays of hope. Recent innovative vaccine work and new theoretical models may put us on the road to success, both with preventive and therapeutic vaccines. In particular, the first success in eliciting protection against vaginal HIV exposure, albeit partial, was reported in mid 1993. In a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in vivo experimental model, cellular immunity to SIV was induced in macaques without their developing any signs of SIV infection. These macaques after rechallenge with low-dose SIV remained free of detectable SIV, so there may be an element of protection associated with specific cellular immune responses to immunodeficiency viruses. However, very high-dose SIV rechallenge experiments in similar macaques still led to acquisition of active SIV infection, suggesting that any such protection was only partial. It is also possible that cellular immune protection may be of varying efficacy against different types of exposure, particularly parenteral versus mucosal (such as sexual) exposures. There is also reason for specific optimism concerning interventions that might directly reduce the risk of perinatal transmission. Data from studies of twins suggest that a substantial proportion of perinatal transmission does not occur until after labor has commenced. Thus, caesarian sections may potentially reduce the risk of transmission to the fetus in some cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)