Atorvastatin and telmisartan do not reduce nasopharyngeal carriage of SARS-CoV-2 in mild or moderate COVID-19 in a phase IIb randomized controlled trial.

Observational studies suggest a reduction in fatal or severe COVID-19 disease with the use of ACE2 inhibitors and statins. We implemented a randomized controlled tree-arm open label trial evaluating the benefits of adding telmisartan (TLM) or atorvastatin (ATV) to lopinavir boosted ritonavir (LPVr) on the SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal viral load in patients with mild / moderate COVID-19 infection in Côte d'Ivoire. RT-PCR positive COVID-19 patients ≥ 18 years, with general or respiratory symptoms for less than 7 days were randomized (1:1:1) to receive LPVr (400 mg/100 mg twice daily), LPVr + TLM (10 mg once daily) or LPVr + ATV (20 mg once daily) for 10 days.

Virological, serological and clinical outcomes in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: development and validation of the HEPA-B simulation model.

Objectives: Detailed simulation models are needed to assess strategies for prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the world's leading cause of liver disease. We sought to develop and validate a simulation model of chronic HBV that incorporates virological, serological and clinical outcomes.

Methods: We developed a novel Monte Carlo simulation model (the HEPA-B Model) detailing the natural history of chronic HBV.

Preparedness and vulnerability of African countries against importations of COVID-19: a modelling study.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has spread from China to 25 countries. Local cycles of transmission have already occurred in 12 countries after case importation. In Africa, Egypt has so far confirmed one case.

HIV self-testing: The key to unlock the first 90 in West and Central Africa.

The West and Central African region (WCAR) still registers some of the highest rates of new HIV infections worldwide (16%) despite a low prevalence of HIV (1.9%). In this region, only 48% of people living with HIV are aware of their HIV status.

Sexual health needs of female sex workers in Côte d'Ivoire: a mixed-methods study to prepare the future implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.

Objective: To describe sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of female sex workers (FSWs) to inform the future implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention in this population.

Design And Setting: The ANRS 12361 PrEP-CI cross-sectional and mixed-methods study was designed and implemented with two community-based organisations in Côte d'Ivoire.

Participants: A convenience sample of 1000 FSWs aged ≥18, not known as HIV-positive, completed a standardised questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, sexual practices, use of community health services and a priori acceptability of PrEP.

Hepatitis B virus activity in untreated hepatitis B e antigen-negative human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis B virus co-infected patients from sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infected patients from sub-Saharan Africa with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative status, data are limited on the evolution of HBV activity when antiretroviral treatment (ART) is absent.

Methods: A total of 43 HBeAg-negative co-infected patients not indicated for ART (per concomitant World Health Organization recommendations) were followed during participation in a randomized controlled trial in Côte d'Ivoire. Chronic HBeAg-negative phases were classified at yearly visits and defined as 'infection' (HBV DNA ≤10 000 copies/mL and normal alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) or 'hepatitis' (HBV DNA >10 000 copies/mL and/or above normal ALT).

[Thromboembolic manifestations in 36 HIV-infected patients in West Africa].

In HIV-infected patients thromboembolic disease is a complication linked to heightened risk. In Ivory Coast no study has been conducted on HIV-infected patients treated in HIV Services. The aim of our study is to describe HIV-associated thromboembolic manifestations in patients treated or untreated with antiretroviral drugs whose data were collected in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Service (ITDS).

[Aortic aneurism dissection in an adult patient with tuberculosis infected with HIV-1 during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome].

We here report the case of a 35-year old man with HIV-1 but with no previous medical-surgical history hospitalized in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, due to fever, cough, dyspnea, chest pain and unfolding of the aortic arch observed on chest x-ray a week after having started antiretroviral therapy (ART). CT angiography of the thoracic aorta showed overall, extended aortic ectasia with mural thrombus. Transesophageal echocardiography objectified type A ascending aortic dissection (Stanford classification).

Aging with HIV: what effect on mortality and loss to follow-up in the course of antiretroviral therapy? The IeDEA West Africa Cohort Collaboration.

Background: Reporting mortality and lost to follow-up (LTFU) by age is essential as older HIV-positive patients might be at risk of long-term effects of living with HIV and/or taking antiretroviral therapy (ART). As age effects might not be linear and might impact HIV outcomes in the oldest more severely, people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged 50-59 years and PLHIV aged >60 years were considered separately.

Setting: Seventeen adult HIV/AIDS clinics spread over nine countries in West Africa.

Effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface-gene variability on markers of replication during treated human immunodeficiency virus-HBV infection in Western Africa.

Background & Aims: Replication markers exhibit substantial variation during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, part of which can be explained by mutations on the surface (S) gene. We aimed to identify S-gene mutations possibly influencing the quantification of HBV replication markers (MUPIQH) in HBV genotype E infection, common to Western Africa.

Methods: Seventy-three antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naïve human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-HBV co-infected patients from Côte d'Ivoire, initiating anti-HBV-containing ART, had available HBV S-gene sequences.

CD4+ T Cell Recovery and Hepatitis B Virus Coinfection in HIV-Infected Patients from Côte d'Ivoire Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy.

Immunorecovery could be attenuated in HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection versus HIV monoinfection during antiretroviral therapy (ART), yet, whether it also occurs in individuals from sub-Saharan Africa without severe comorbidities is unknown. In this study, 808 HIV-infected patients in Côte d'Ivoire initiating continuous ART were included. Six-month CD4+ count trajectories and the proportion reaching CD4+ T cell counts >350/mm, HIV-RNA <300 copies/mL, still alive and not lost to follow-up within 18 months ("optimal immunorecovery") were compared between coinfected groups.

Clinical Outcomes during Treatment Interruptions in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Hepatitis B Virus Co-infected Patients from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) interruptions increase the risk of severe morbidity/mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals from subSaharan Africa. We aimed to determine whether the risk is further increased among HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infected patients in this setting. In this sub-analysis of a randomized-control trial, 632 participants from Côte d'Ivoire randomized to receive continuous-ART (C-ART), structured ART interruptions of 2-months off, 4-months on (2/4-ART), and CD4-guided ART interruptions (CD4GT, interruption at 350/mm and reintroduction at 250/mm) were analyzed.

Higher Mortality Despite Early Antiretroviral Therapy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-Coinfected Patients With High HBV Replication.

Background: In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection increases the risk of disease progression. Tenofovir plus emtricitabine/lamivudine (TDF/XTC)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART), which suppresses HIV and HBV replication, has the potential for decreasing this risk. Here, we analyze the association between HBV replication, early ART, and mortality in West African adults.

Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030: Scientific Developments from the 2016 INTEREST Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The underpinning theme of the 2016 INTEREST Conference held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 3-6 May 2016 was ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Focused primarily on HIV treatment, pathogenesis and prevention research in resource-limited settings, the conference attracted 369 active delegates from 34 countries, of which 22 were in Africa. Presentations on treatment optimization, acquired drug resistance, care of children and adolescents, laboratory monitoring and diagnostics, implementation challenges, HIV prevention, key populations, vaccine and cure, hepatitis C, mHealth, financing the HIV response and emerging pathogens, were accompanied by oral, mini-oral and poster presentations.

Immunologic response in treatment-naïve HIV-2-infected patients: the IeDEA West Africa cohort.

Introduction: Response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among individuals infected with HIV-2 is poorly described. We compared the immunological response among patients treated with three nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) to boosted protease inhibitor (PI) and unboosted PI-based regimens in West Africa.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled treatment-naïve HIV-2-infected patients within the International Epidemiological Databases to Evaluate AIDS collaboration in West Africa.

Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification as a predictor of seroclearance during treatment in HIV-hepatitis B virus coinfected patients from Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background And Aim: In Sub-Saharan Africa, seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg), including their quantifiable markers, have rarely been evaluated during long-term antiviral treatment among patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: In this prospective cohort study from two randomized-control trials in Côte d'Ivoire, 161 antiretroviral-naïve HIV-HBV coinfected patients starting lamivudine (n = 76) or tenofovir/emtricitabine (n = 85) containing antiretroviral therapy were included. HBV DNA was quantified using an in-house assay (detection limit = 12 copies/mL) and HBsAg quantification (qHBsAg) using the Elecsys assay.

Identifying patients infected with hepatitis B virus in sub-Saharan Africa: potential for misclassification.

Most research in sub-Saharan Africa establishes hepatitis B infection via one-time hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing. Of 237 HIV-infected patients from two clinical trials testing HBsAg positive (MiniVidas®), 206 (86.9%) had validated serological tests using another assay (Architect).

Metabolic disorders and cardiovascular risk in treatment-naive HIV-infected patients of sub-saharan origin starting antiretrovirals: impact of westernized lifestyle.

In a cohort of HIV-infected patients of sub-Saharan origin we describe the incidence of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and lipodystrophy after 3 years of combined antiretroviral therapy, and model the 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases, while taking into account environmental factors. This is a multinational, prospective cohort study conducted in HIV outpatient clinics from four tertiary care centers set in France and Côte d'Ivoire. The participants were HIV-infected, treatment-naive patients eligible to start antiretroviral treatment and were of sub-Saharan African origin.

How to optimize hepatitis C virus treatment impact on life years saved in resource-constrained countries.

Unlabelled: In resource-constrained countries where the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease is usually high, it is important to know which population should be treated first in order to increase treatment effectiveness. The aim was to estimate the effectiveness of different HCV treatment eligibility scenarios in three different countries. Using a Markov model, we estimated the number of life-years saved (LYS) with different treatment eligibility scenarios according to fibrosis stage (F1-F4 or F3-4), compared to base case (F2-F4), at a constant treatment rate, of patients between 18 and 60 years of age, at stages F0/F1 to F4, without liver complications or coinfections, chronically infected by HCV, and treated with pegylated interferon (IFN)/ribavirin or more-efficacious therapies (i.

HIV treatment and care in resource-constrained environments: challenges for the next decade.

Many successes have been achieved in HIV care in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC): increased number of HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART), wide decentralization, reduction in morbidity and mortality and accessibility to cheapest drugs. However, these successes should not hide existing failures and difficulties. In this paper, we underline several key challenges.