Low thymic output, peripheral homeostasis deregulation, and hastened regulatory T cells differentiation in children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Objective: To perform an extensive analysis of the immune status of asymptomatic children with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, with special emphasis on the regulatory T cells (Treg) population.

Study Design: Analysis of thymic function, frequency and absolute counts of immune subsets, and phenotype of Treg were performed in 10 asymptomatic children bearing the 22q11.

Rate of candidiasis among HIV-infected children in Spain in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (1997-2008).

Background: Candidiasis is the most common opportunistic infection seen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. The aim of our study was to estimate the candidiasis rate and evaluate its trend in HIV-infected children in Spain during the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) compared to HIV-uninfected children.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study.

Preterm neonates show marked leukopenia and lymphopenia that are associated with increased regulatory T-cell values and diminished IL-7.

Introduction: Current advances in neonatology have improved survival among preterm and low-birth-weight infants. However, the risk of neonatal death in preterm infants is much greater than in full-term neonates and is frequently associated with infections.

Methods: Little is known about the immune status of preterm neonates; therefore, we analyzed the frequency and absolute counts of different immune populations in 211 cord blood samples taken from very-preterm to full-term neonates.

A leaky mutation in CD3D differentially affects αβ and γδ T cells and leads to a Tαβ-Tγδ+B+NK+ human SCID.

T cells recognize antigens via their cell surface TCR and are classified as either αβ or γδ depending on the variable chains in their TCR, α and β or γ and δ, respectively. Both αβ and γδ TCRs also contain several invariant chains, including CD3δ, which support surface TCR expression and transduce the TCR signal. Mutations in variable chains would be expected to affect a single T cell lineage, while mutations in the invariant chains would affect all T cells.

Causes of death in pediatric patients vertically infected by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in Madrid, Spain, from 1982 to mid-2009.

Background: Effective therapies have increased life expectancy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pediatric patients. We investigated the underlying causes of death, mortality, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) rates in HIV-infected pediatric patients in Madrid, Spain.

Methods: We studied a multicenter cohort of 478 HIV-infected pediatric patients in Madrid.

Chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatosis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperature (CANDLE) syndrome.

Several syndromes manifest as recurrent daily fevers, skin lesions, and multisystem inflammation. We describe 4 patients with early-onset recurrent fevers, annular violaceous plaques, persistent violaceous eyelid swelling, low weight and height, lipodystrophy, hepatomegaly, and a range of visceral inflammatory manifestations. Laboratory abnormalities included chronic anemia, elevated acute-phase reactants, and raised liver enzymes.

Long-term response to highly active antiretroviral therapy with lopinavir/ritonavir in pre-treated vertically HIV-infected children.

Background: Immune recovery after prolonged highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with lopinavir/ritonavir has been reported in adults but not in children. Our study aimed at evaluating the long-term use of lopinavir/ritonavir among children in a clinical setting.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study on 69 protease inhibitor (PI)-experienced vertically HIV-infected children on HAART containing lopinavir/ritonavir.

Slow progression of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus disease in a cohort of coinfected children.

We carried out a retrospective study to determine the evolution of 23 vertically HIV-1/HCV coinfected children and 30 vertically HIV-1 infected children (control group). Six out of 23 HIV-1/HCV coinfected children developed AIDS versus 20 out of 30 HIV-1 children (P < 0.05).

Impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy on CD4+ T cells and viral load of children with AIDS: a population-based study.

In this study, we sought to characterize the changes over time at the population level on CD4(+) T cells and plasma viral load (VL) levels of HIV-1-infected children with or without AIDS. We carried out a retrospective study in 114 HIV-infected children during the calendar period that a highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) protocol was used. The HAART protocol consisted of three drugs: nucleoside analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and/or HIV protease inhibitors, and/or nonnucleoside analogue HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Positive virological outcome after lopinavir/ritonavir salvage therapy in protease inhibitor-experienced HIV-1-infected children: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Lopinavir/ritonavir has demonstrated antiviral activity in the HIV-infected patient.

Objective: To analyse virological response to lopinavir/ritonavir therapy in previously protease inhibitor (PI)-experienced HIV-1-infected children.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-seven HIV-1-children on lopinavir/ritonavir were studied in a multicentre prospective cohort observational study.

The effects on infants of potent antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy: a report from Spain.

Background: The purpose of our study was to assess the effects on infants of protease inhibitor (PI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) given to their HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy.

Material/methods: A multicenter observational study was carried out at 11 centers in Spain, involving 124 HIV-1-infected pregnant women under ART and their infants. The mothers were classified according to the ART protocols used during pregnancy into two groups: group A, 52 women with > or =2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) with or without NNRTI, for a mean time of 4.

CD38 expression in CD8+ T cells predicts virological failure in HIV type 1-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy.

An observational study of children vertically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was performed to determine the role of CD38 expression in CD8(+) T cells as prognostic marker of virological failure in children receiving HAART. We studied 42 children who were receiving antiretroviral therapy and who had an undetectable virus load (uVL), and we found a negative correlation between CD38 expression in CD8(+) T cells and the duration of uVL. We selected 17 HIV-1-infected children with CD38 values close to the baseline level (i.

Neuroprotective effects of early antiretrovirals in vertical HIV infection.

We performed a retrospective study of a series of 58 of 189 vertically HIV-1 infected children who went on to develop progressive HIV-1-associated encephalopathy to assess real-life effects of early antiretroviral therapy on neurologic outcome. Our findings clearly indicate that antiretroviral therapy before the onset of neurologic symptoms delayed presentation of progressive HIV-1-associated encephalopathy, with an additional beneficial effect on survival.

Viral load and CD4+ T lymphocyte response to highly active antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected children: an observational study.

An observational study was performed involving 95 children with vertically transmitted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection to assess the sustainability of undetectable viral loads (VLs) and increased CD4+ T lymphocyte percentages after 48 months of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The median time to achieve a 10% increase in the CD4+ T lymphocyte percentage was 11.01 months.

Low blood CD8+ T-lymphocytes and high circulating monocytes are predictors of HIV-1-associated progressive encephalopathy in children.

Objective: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated progressive encephalopathy (PE) is a common and devastating complication of HIV-1 infection in children, whose risk factors have not yet been clearly defined. Regardless of the age of presentation, PE shortens life expectancy. Paradoxically, as survival of patients has been prolonged as a result of the use of antiretroviral therapy, the prevalence of PE has increased.

CD8+ T-cell numbers predict the response to antiviral therapy in HIV-1-infected children.

Our objective was to study the probability of achieving undetectable viral load levels in HIV-1-infected children after 36 mo of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A prospective, multicenter, longitudinal study in 41 HIV-1-infected children on HAART was undertaken. Viral load was quantified using standard molecular assay.

[Responses to antiretroviral treatments in vertically HIV-1-infected children].

Background And Objective: Our goal was to determine the probability of achieving a fall-off of viral load (VL) and an increase of CD4+T-lymphocytes by 36 months from the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a cohort of HIV-infected children according to their baseline data.

Patients And Method: This was retrospective multicenter observational study of virologic and immunologic markers in 128 HIV-1-vertically infected children on ART: 55 HIV-infected children on combination therapy (CT), and 73 HIV-infected children on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Viral load (VL) was quantified using a standard molecular assay.

[Immunologic recovery after 2-years on HAART in vertically HIV-infected children].

Background: Our purpose was to carry out an analysis of T cells subsets involved in the recovery of the immune system in vertically HIV-1-infected children, on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) over more than 24 months.

Patients And Method: Seventeen HIV-1-infected children were studied: a) Res-group (HIV-1-infected children who were HAART-responders): 10 children in category C3 at entry in the study who, after more than 24 months on HAART, recovered CD4+ T cells (> 25% and 500 CD4+ T-cells/ml) and may control viral replicación, and b) non-Res group (HIV-1-infected children who did not respond to HAART): 7 children in category C3 at entry in the study who, after more than 24 months on HAART, did not recover CD4+ T-cells (< 15% or 200 CD4+ T-cells/ml) and did not control viral replication. As control group, 12 HIV-1-uninfected children with similar ages were included in the study.

[Different immune profiles according to the immunological and clinical progression in vertically HIV-infected children].

Background: Our goal was to evaluate immunologic profile differences of HIV-infected children on antiretroviral treatment (ART). PATIENTS AND METHODDS: We studied 23 HIV-vertically infected children: a) N-A1 group: 10 HIV-infected children in A1 category; b) N-B2 group: 6 HIV-infected children in B2 category, and c) N-C3 group: 7 HIV-infected children in C3 category. We also studied 13 healthy age-matched HIV-negative children as controls.