Adrenal insufficiency in HIV/AIDS: a review

Cardiovascular Dynamics in HIV: The Influence of Adrenal Function and Nutritional Status

This interdisciplinary review explores the intricate nexus between HIV infection, nutrition, adrenal gland function, and cardiovascular health, highlighting a critical aspect of HIV management often overlooked in current literature. With the advent of antiretroviral therapy, the life expectancy of people living with HIV has dramatically improved, transforming HIV into a manageable chronic condition. However, this success brings forth new challenges, notably an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases among people living with HIV. We examine the normal physiology of the adrenal gland, including its role in mineral metabolism, a crucial facet of nutrition. We discuss the evolution of knowledge tying adrenal pathology to cardiovascular disease. We explore the impact of HIV on adrenal gland findings from a gross pathology perspective, as well as the clinical impact of adrenal insufficiency in HIV. The review further elucidates the role of nutrition in this context, considering the double burden of undernutrition and obesity prevalent in regions heavily affected by HIV. By aggregating findings from longitudinal studies and recent clinical trials, the review presents compelling evidence of increased cardiovascular disease among people living with HIV compared with people without HIV. It highlights the critical role of the adrenal glands in regulating nutrient metabolism and its implications for cardiovascular health, drawing attention to the potential for dietary interventions and targeted therapies to mitigate these risks. This review urges a paradigm shift in the management of HIV, advocating for a holistic approach that incorporates nutritional assessment and interventions into routine HIV care to address the complex interplay between HIV, adrenal function, and cardiovascular health. Through this lens, we offer insights into novel therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk in people living with HIV, contributing to the ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life and longevity in this population.

Disseminated tuberculosis in PLWHIV presenting as primary adrenal insufficiency

A woman in her 40s presented with a history of fatigue, symptoms of light-headedness on getting up from a sitting position and hyperpigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes. During the evaluation, she was diagnosed with primary adrenal insufficiency. Radiological imaging and microbiological evidence revealed features of disseminated tuberculosis involving the lungs and the adrenals. She was found to have an HIV infection. This patient was prescribed glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement therapy and was administered antituberculous and antiretroviral treatment.

Inflammatory and Infectious Disorders in Endocrine Pathology

A variety of inflammatory conditions may directly involve the endocrine glands, leading to endocrine dysfunction that can cause severe consequences on patients' health, if left untreated. Inflammation of the endocrine system may be caused by either infectious agents or other mechanisms, including autoimmune and other immune-mediated processes. Not infrequently, inflammatory and infectious diseases may appear as tumor-like lesions of endocrine organs and simulate neoplastic processes. These diseases may be clinically under-recognized and not infrequently the diagnosis is suggested on pathological samples. Thus, the pathologist should be aware of the basic principles of their pathogenesis, as well as of their morphological features, clinicopathological correlates, and differential diagnosis. Interestingly, several systemic inflammatory conditions show a peculiar tropism to the endocrine system as a whole. In turn, organ-specific inflammatory disorders are observed in endocrine glands. This review will focus on the morphological aspects and clinicopathological features of infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, drug-induced inflammatory reactions, IgG4-related disease, and other inflammatory disorders involving the endocrine system. A mixed entity-based and organ-based approach will be used, with the aim to provide the practicing pathologist with a comprehensive and practical guide to the diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory disorders of the endocrine system.

Long COVID in people living with HIV

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

It is now recognized that SARS-CoV-2 infection can have a long-term impact on health. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding Long COVID in people living with HIV (PLWH).

RECENT FINDINGS

PLWH may be at elevated risk of experiencing Long COVID. Although the mechanisms contributing to Long COVID are incompletely understood, there are several demographic and clinical factors that might make PLWH vulnerable to developing Long COVID.

SUMMARY

PLWH should be aware that new or worsening symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection might represent Long COVID. HIV providers should be aware of this clinical entity and be mindful that their patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection may be at higher risk.

The Changing Face of Drug-induced Adrenal Insufficiency in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System

CONTEXT

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a life-threatening condition complicating heterogeneous disorders across various disciplines, with challenging diagnosis and a notable drug-induced component.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to describe the spectrum of drug-induced AI through adverse drug event reports received by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

METHODS

A retrospective disproportionality analysis reporting trends of drug-induced AI was conducted on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) (> 15 000 000 reports since 2004). AE reports were extracted from FAERS over the past 2 decades. Interventions included cases containing any of the preferred terms in the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities describing AI, and signals of disproportionate reporting for drugs recorded in 10 or more cases as primary suspect.

RESULTS

We identified 8496 cases of AI: 97.5% serious, 41.1% requiring hospitalization. AI showed an exponential increase throughout the years, with 5282 (62.2%) cases in 2015 to 2020. We identified 56 compounds associated with substantial disproportionality: glucocorticoids (N = 1971), monoclonal antibodies (N = 1644, of which N = 1330 were associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors-ICIs), hormone therapy (N = 291), anti-infectives (N = 252), drugs for hypercortisolism or adrenocortical cancer diagnosis/treatment (N = 169), and protein kinase inhibitors (N = 138). Cases of AI by glucocorticoids were stable in each 5-year period (22%-27%), whereas those by monoclonal antibodies, largely ICIs, peaked from 13% in 2010 to 2015 to 33% in 2015 to 2020.

CONCLUSION

We provide a comprehensive insight into the evolution of drug-induced AI, highlighting the heterogeneous spectrum of culprit drug classes and the emerging increased reporting of ICIs. We claim for the urgent identification of predictive factors for drug-induced AI, and the establishment of screening and educational protocols for patients and caregivers.