Reversibility of Central Nervous System Adverse Events in Course of Art.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the frequency of central nervous system adverse events (CNS-AE) on dolutegravir (DTG) and non-DTG containing ART, and their reversibility, in the observational prospective SCOLTA cohort. Factors associated with CNS-AE were estimated using a Cox proportional-hazards model. 4939 people living with HIV (PLWH) were enrolled in DTG (n = 1179) and non-DTG (n = 3760) cohorts.

Association Between Severity of COVID-19 Respiratory Disease and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objectives: The purpose of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate, in patients with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the association between the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) respiratory illness and the risk of infected patients to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Ninety-six patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were enrolled in the study. The STOP-BANG questionnaire to investigate the risk of the OSA syndrome was filled in by the patients at admission.

Safety and durability in a cohort of HIV-1 positive patients treated with once and twice daily darunavir-based therapy (SCOLTA Project).

Objective: To evaluate safety and durability of once-daily and twice-daily darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r)-based treatment in HIV patients in clinical practice.

Methods: The Surveillance Cohort Long-Term Toxicity Antiretrovirals (SCOLTA) project is a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort created to assess the incidence of adverse events in patients receiving new antiretroviral drugs. Twenty-five Italian infectious diseases centers enroll patients and collect their data through this on-line system.

Optimal fosamprenavir regimen to prevent lipid abnormalities.

We report our experience on the impact of different fosamprenavir boosted regimens on plasma lipid levels in 48 naive monoinfectd- HIV-seropositive patients. Eighteen months after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART), all patients showed a good immuno-virological response, with no statistically significant differences among the three groups; no changes in ART regimens were necessary and no adverse events were reported. On the contrary, a statistically significant difference among the three groups of patients was observed in cholesterol and triglyceride levels, since higher levels of cholesterol (including LDLs) and triglycerides were observed in patients taking the higher dose of ritonavir.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis of the penis.

Disseminated cryptococcosis is a well-known opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. We report an unusual patient who demonstrated an isolated plaque of cryptococcosis on the penis. Resolution of this plaque was obtained after treatment with fluconazole, but subsequent cutaneous dissemination occurred that was responsive to amphotericin B.

Tenofovir renal safety in HIV-infected patients: results from the SCOLTA Project.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and incidence of nephrotoxicity in HIV-infected patients enrolled in the SCOLTA Project tenofovir cohort and to identify possible risk factors.

Design: The SCOLTA Project is a prospective, observational, multicenter study involving 25 infectious disease departments in Italy created to assess the incidence of severe adverse events in patients receiving new antiretroviral drugs.

Patients: The SCOLTA Project tenofovir cohort includes a total of 754 HIV infected patients.

[Renal toxicity in HIV-infected patients receiving HAART including tenofovir].

HIV-infected patients may undergo renal damage related to the HIV infection itself, to the presence of co-infections, arterial hypertension, diabetes or to the exposure to nephrotoxic drugs. Tenofovir has been associated with the development of acute renal failure with Fanconi syndrome and acute tubular necrosis and, albeit rarely, with chronic liver disease. Patients with low CD4 cell count, low body weight and with concomitant diseases such as arterial hypertension and diabetes or co-infections with HCV, HBV or Treponema pallidum seem at higher risk of tenofovir-related nephrotoxicity.

Morphologic alterations in HIV-infected people with lipodystrophy are associated with good adherence to HAART.

Objective: To evaluate the association between adherence to drugs and morphologic alterations (MOA) in a cohort of HIV-infected patients on HAART.

Method: This was a cross-sectional multicenter cohort study in eight tertiary Clinical Centers of Northern and Central Italy. Consecutive outpatients taking HAART were enrolled from August 2000 to March 2001.