Sociodemographic, Clinical, and Behavioral Factors Associated with Sexual Transmitted Infection among HIV-1 Positive Migrants in Portugal: Are There Differences between Sexes?

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to occur at high levels. According to the WHO, each year there are an estimated 374 million new infections with syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis. STIs are associated with an increased risk of acquiring HIV infection.

Treatment patterns and preferences of people living with HIV starting or switching antiretroviral therapy: Real-world evidence from Portugal.

Background: There is a lack of up-to-date real-life evidence on antiretroviral therapy (ART) strategies among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Portugal. This study aimed to describe the treatment strategy used in PLWH either initiating or switching ART.

Methods: Non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter study carried out between December 2019 and October 2021 in Portugal.

Determinants of HIV late presentation among men who have sex with men in Portugal (2014-2019): who's being left behind?

Introduction: HIV late presentation (LP) remains excessive in Europe. We aimed to analyze the factors associated with late presentation in the MSM population newly diagnosed with HIV in Portugal between 2014 and 2019.

Methods: We included 391 newly HIV-1 diagnosed Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), from the BESTHOPE project, in 17 countrywide Portuguese hospitals.

The impact of integrase inhibitors on steatosis and fibrosis biomarkers in persons with HIV naïve to antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) has a high prevalence among persons with HIV infection. Since Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs) are used worldwide and have been associated with weight gain, we must determine their effect in the development of NAFLD and Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) in these patients. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of INSTIs on variation of liver steatosis and fibrosis in the ART-naïve person with HIV, using Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI), Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4), BARD score and NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS).

Hepatitis E in a Portuguese cohort of human immunodeficiency virus positive patients: High seroprevalence but no chronic infections.

Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection causes zoonotic hepatitis in Europe, with a higher risk of complications in immunocompromised hosts. HEV natural history in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients is not fully understood, and its prevalence is unknown.

Objectives: To study the seroprevalence of HEV and prevalence of chronic HEV in HIV-positive patients from Porto, Portugal.

HIV-1-Transmitted Drug Resistance and Transmission Clusters in Newly Diagnosed Patients in Portugal Between 2014 and 2019.

Objective: To describe and analyze transmitted drug resistance (TDR) between 2014 and 2019 in newly infected patients with HIV-1 in Portugal and to characterize its transmission networks.

Methods: Clinical, socioepidemiological, and risk behavior data were collected from 820 newly diagnosed patients in Portugal between September 2014 and December 2019. The sequences obtained from drug resistance testing were used for subtyping, TDR determination, and transmission cluster (TC) analyses.

Real-World Characterization of the Portuguese Population Living with HIV who Initiated Raltegravir Based-Regimens: The REALITY Study.

Introduction: Although raltegravir has been available since 2007, data are lacking on the Portuguese population living with HIV who initiated this antiretroviral therapy. Hence, this study aimed to characterize the patients who initiated raltegravir-based regimens between January 2015 and December 2017, on sociodemographics, clinical features, and treatment satisfaction.

Material And Methods: Observational, retrospective, multicentre study conducted at 11 reference sites.

Chronic hepatitis C treatment in HIV co-infection in Portugal: Results from a cohort OF 2133 patients presented by GEPCOI (Portuguese Coinfection Study Group).

Direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) have recently changed the paradigm of hepatitis C therapy, significantly improving treatment response rates, patient life expectancy and quality of life. In Portugal, sofosbuvir (SOF) and SOF/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) were fully reimbursed by the National Health System since early 2015 and generalized use of interferon-free DAA based regimens became current practice. During 2016, the remaining DAAs were sequentially added and covered by the same health access policy.

The Influence of Antiretroviral Therapy on Hepatitis C Virus Viral Load and Liver Fibrosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Coinfected Patients: An Observational Study.

Background: The role of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for Hepatitis C viral load (HCV-VL) and liver fibrosis is poorly understood. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of ART on HCV-VL and liver fibrosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients followed at a tertiary university hospital.

Non-AIDS-related comorbidities in people living with HIV-1 aged 50 years and older: The AGING POSITIVE study.

Objective: To characterize the profile of non-AIDS-related comorbidities (NARC) in the older HIV-1-infected population and to explore the factors associated with multiple NARC.

Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study including HIV-1-infected patients aged ≥50 years, who were virologically suppressed and had been on a stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen for at least 6 months. A multiple regression model explored the association between demographic and clinical variables and the number of NARC.

Metabolically Healthy or Metabolically Unhealthy Obese HIV-Infected Patients: Mostly a Matter of Age?

Life expectancy of HIV-infected patients has increased with antiretroviral treatment (ART). Chronic diseases associated with aging, including metabolic and cardiovascular diseases are becoming more prevalent in this population. We aimed to evaluate the association of obesity and aging with cardiometabolic comorbidities and metabolic health status among patients with HIV infection.

Routine CD4 monitoring in HIV patients with viral suppression: Is it really necessary? A Portuguese cohort.

Purpose: CD4 cell-count has been regarded as the key surrogate marker for prognostic staging and therapeutic monitoring of HIV-infected individuals. Our purpose was to assess the probability of maintaining a CD4 count >200 cells/μL in patients with continuous viral suppression and CD4 cell counts >200 cells/μL.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients, treatment naïve, who started antiretroviral therapy between 2007 and 2011.

Prozone-like phenomenon in travellers with fatal malaria: report of two cases.

Malaria diagnosis remains a concern in non-endemic countries, with rapid diagnosis being crucial to improve patients' outcome. Rapid diagnostic tests have high sensitivity but they also have flaws and false-negative results that might jeopardize malaria diagnosis. Some false-negative results might relate to a prozone-like effect.

Primary drug resistance at diagnosis of HIV-1 infection: a Portuguese cohort.

Introduction: Presence of viral mutations conferring resistance to antiretroviral drugs has potential impact on success of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of resistance-associated mutations in HIV-infected patients without prior ART in a Portuguese cohort.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective single-centre study of patients newly diagnosed with HIV-1 infection between 2006 and 2012.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission: experience of a Portuguese centre.

Introduction: HIV infection during pregnancy still raises controversial issues. Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been successful in reducing mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Routine screening in pregnancy and in pre-conception consultation proved to be one of the best methods able to get this treatment on time.

Peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin for HIV-HCV genotype 1 coinfected patients: a randomized international trial.

Background: The safety and efficacy of weight-based ribavirin (RBV) dosing regimens in patients with HIV-HCV coinfection has not been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials.

Objective: This randomized, double-blind, international, parallel-group study in specialist outpatient clinics in the United States, Spain, and Portugal compares the efficacy and safety of 2 RBV dose regimens (800 mg/day and 1000/1200 mg/day) combined with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) in patients with HIV-HCV (genotype 1) coinfection.

Methods: Patients with HIV-HCV coinfection, quantifiable HCV RNA in serum, HCV genotype-1 infection, compensated liver disease, and stable HIV disease (CD4+ count ≥100 cells/µL) with or without ongoing antiretroviral therapy were randomized to 48 weeks' treatment with RBV at standard dose (800 mg/day) or weight-based dose (1000 mg/day for patients weighing <75 kg; 1200 mg/day for patients weighing ≥75 kg) in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) 180 µg once a week.

Ophthalmic manifestations in 18 patients with botulism diagnosed in Porto, Portugal between 1998 and 2003.

Background: Botulism is a rare but potentially lethal disease in which ophthalmic signs and symptoms are among the very earliest manifestations. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of botulism-infected patients admitted to a general hospital in Porto, Portugal.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all botulism patients admitted to São João Hospital between January 1998 and January 2003.