Leishmania infection can hamper immune recovery in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients

New Microbiol. 2008 Jul;31(3):435-8.

Abstract

An HIV-infected patient started combination antiretroviral therapy with 13 CD4+ cells/microL. Despite sustained virological suppression over the following four years, the anemia did not resolve, and the CD4+ cell counts always remained below 200/microL until co-infection with Leishmania was diagnosed in October 2006 when the patient started complaining of persistent mild fever and asthenia. Once treatment for leishmaniasis was started with miltefosine, CD4+ cell count rose above 400/microL. A new drop in CD4+ cell count was observed when Leishmania DNA turned out again to be positive, but treatment with liposomal amphotericin-B restored immune recovery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Leishmaniasis / complications
  • Leishmaniasis / drug therapy
  • Leishmaniasis / immunology*
  • Male
  • Phosphorylcholine / administration & dosage
  • Phosphorylcholine / analogs & derivatives
  • Phosphorylcholine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • liposomal amphotericin B
  • Phosphorylcholine
  • miltefosine
  • Amphotericin B