[Early virologic response value as predictive factor of sustained virologic response to treatment with interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients with or without HIV coinfection].

Background And Objective: The most effective currently available therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection is the combination of interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin both, in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and in patients without coinfection. In an attempt to avoid morbidity and health costs we searched for an indicator of early virologic response (EVR). We evaluated the EVR efficiency at 4 and 12-weeks after the initiation of antiviral combination therapy.

[Epidemiology of chronic hepatitis C virus in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus. Study of 767 patients].

Background And Objective: To study the epidemiological aspects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients co-infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Patients And Method: This study was carried out in 767 HIV infected patients who were followed-up at the HIV/AIDS Unit of the Internal Medicine Department of the Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital of Lleida (Spain). In addition to clinical records and information about the probable contagion route, gender and starting year of intravenous drug use, patients were analyzed for the presence of hepatitis C antibodies, viral load and HCV genotype, alanine aminotransferase concentration, CD4+ lymphocytes and viral load of HIV.

[Chronic hepatitis C in HIV co-infected patients. Study of 55 cases with liver biopsy].

Background And Objective: To study the evolution of chronic hepatitis in HIV-HCV co-infected patients and the factors conditioning this evolution.

Patients And Method: 55 intravenous drug users with HIV-HCV co-infection were studied. We performed a clinical and laboratory study determining the age at the time of HCV infection and the date of liver biopsy, HIV stage, CD4 cell count, viral load, and time under antiretroviral treatment.

Evaluation of the polymerase chain reaction method for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA in pleural fluid samples.

Study Objective: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP); however, an etiologic diagnosis by traditional techniques can be accomplished in only a small percentage of patients with CAP. Pleural fluid is present in approximately 40% of patients with CAP; therefore, we hypothesized that detection of S pneumoniae DNA in pleural fluid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may help to increase the rate of diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Design: A prospective study of cases.

[Survival and disease progression in 251 patients with HIV-1 infection. Study of p24 antigen and viral burden as prognosis makers. Their value at 4 years of follow-up].

Background: Prospective study of survival and AIDS or death progression in a cohort of 251 HIV infected patients whose seroconversion time is unknown, with a main objective: To analyse p24 antigen plasmatic levels and viral load as surrogate markers.

Patients: 251 patients were included, most of them undergoing antiretroviral therapy, and were followed-up consecutively in the HIV/AIDS Unity of Internal Medicine Service of the Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida.

Methods: We made clinical and analytical baseline studies and every 3 months thereafter.

Nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia: correlation between cause and severity or comorbidity.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia frequently constitutes a nonsevere infection manageable at home. However, for these low-risk episodes, the epidemiological features have not been carefully analyzed.

Objectives: To determine the cause of nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia and to investigate if a correlation exists between cause and severity or comorbidity.

[The prognostic markers of survival and progression in HIV-1 infection. A study of CD4+ lymphocytes, antigen p24 and viral load during 3 years in a cohort of 251 patients].

Background: Prospective study of survival and AIDS or death progression in a cohort of 251 HIV infected patients whose seroconversion time is unknown, with 1 main objective: To analyse CD4+ lymphocytes count, p24 antigen plasmatic levels and viral load as surrogate markers.

Patients And Methods: 251 patients were included, most of them undergoing antiretroviral therapy, followed consecutively in the HIV/AIDS Unity of Internal Medicine Service of the Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida. We made clinical and analytical baseline studies and every 3 months thereafter.

[Value of transthoracic aspiration puncture in the etiologic diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in patients not admitted to the ICU].

The aim of this study was to determine the etiologic diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia in hospitalized patients outside the intensive care unit. The study was carried out prospectively at the University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova in Lerida (Spain) from 1 May 1994 through 28 February 1996, during which 103 cases were diagnosed. Transthoracic needle aspiration (TNA) was chosen as the most useful diagnostic procedure, given its high specificity and low rate of complications.

Community-acquired pneumonia: development of a bedside predictive model and scoring system to identify the aetiology.

Although initial presentation has been commonly used to select empirical therapy in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), few studies have provided a quantitative estimation of its value. The objective of this study was to analyse whether a combination of basic clinical and laboratory information performed at bedside can accurately predict the aetiology of pneumonia. A prospective study was developed among patients admitted to the Emergency Department University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain, with CAP.

[Risk factors of non-ICU nosocomial pneumonia].

Objective: To know the incidence and risk's factors of nosocomial pneumonia (NN) in patient entered in hospital with age more of 14 years-old. The study was not performed in patients of Unit Care. Also, morbility and mortality are showed and the relation between bacterial agent and inmunologic answer of the patients.

[The prognostic markers of HIV infection progression. A study of the p24 antigen in a cohort of 251 patients].

Background: Prospective study of AIDS or death progression in a cohort of 251 HIV infected patients whose time of seroconversion is unknown, with 2 main objectives: 1. To analyse plasma level p24 antigen as a marker of progression. 2.

[Epidemiology of acute cerebrovascular disease in Lleida from 1996 to 1997. Predictive factors of mortality at short and medium term].

Introduction: Given the great clinical relevance of the cerebrovascular disease, the incidence, nosology, vascular risk factors and factors predicting short and medium-term survival after stroke were evaluated in Lleida (Spain).

Patients And Methods: Five hundred forty-five consecutive patients with an acute stroke admitted to the Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova during the period 1996-1997 were evaluated. A descriptive epidemiological study and a multivariate logistic regression analysis of predictive factors of mortality at 1-month and 1-year after the stroke were made.

Is Streptococcus pneumoniae the leading cause of pneumonia of unknown etiology? A microbiologic study of lung aspirates in consecutive patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Purpose: Although a wide variety of recognized pathogens can cause community-acquired pneumonia, in many patients the etiology remains unknown after routine diagnostic workup. The aim of this study was to identify the causal agent in these patients by obtaining lung aspirates with transthoracic needle aspiration.

Subjects And Methods: During a 15-month period, all consecutive patients with community-acquired pneumonia who were eligible for transthoracic needle aspiration were enrolled in the study.

[Value of quantification of p24 antigen in plasma as a prognostic marker of survival in a cohort of 251 HIV-positive patients].

Objective: To analyse plasma p24 antigen as a marker of survival in a cohort of HIV-infected patients whose time of seroconversion is unknown.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: AIDS Unit in a teaching hospital.

Rapid detection of pneumococcal antigen in lung aspirates: comparison with culture and PCR technique.

Detection of pneumococcal antigen has been used to increase the rate of diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia. The present study was designed to determine the value of rapid detection of pneumococcal antigen in samples obtained by transthoracic needle aspiration (TNA) from patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a comparative analysis with culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pneumococcal antigen was detected by latex agglutination.