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ABSTRACT: Background: Efavirenz (EFV) is associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations that may compromise the course of HIV treatment. Methods: Adverse effects leading to drug discontinuation among naïve HIV-1 patients starting on a first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen were investigated by a review of patient medical files. Results: Among 276 patients, 168 (61%) were given EFV as part of the initial ART regimen. Female gender and past mental disorders were identified as predictors for selecting a non-EFV based regimen. EFV was later discontinued during the course of treatment for 90 (54%) patients. The EFV discontinuation rate due to neuropsychiatric disturbances, such as dizziness, abnormal dreams, mood changes, and anxiety, was 60%, versus 3% among patients on a third non-EFV agent based regimen (p < 0.0001). Half of the patients discontinued EFV later than 12 months after initiation of treatment, and in most cases at the discretion of the physician. Improvement in neuropsychiatric symptoms was reported by more than 90% of the patients for whom EFV discontinuation and follow-up outcome had been reported in the medical charts. Conclusions: Discontinuation of EFV occurs in more than half the treated patients. Neuropsychiatric adverse effects are by far the most common reasons for discontinuation. Discontinuation occurs late in the course of treatment suggesting persistence of central nervous system toxicity, which may impact quality of life negatively on a long-term basis. The role of EFV as a first-line ART agent should be reconsidered in the current guidelines, in particular due to the availability of other equally effective, but less toxic, ART agents.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 02/2013; · 1.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The authors report discrepant findings between proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and conventional magnetic resonance imaging in a 67-y-old woman with herpes simplex virus type 1 encephalitis. The sparse amount of literature on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients with herpes simplex type 1 encephalitis is discussed.
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 11/2011; 44(4):315-9. · 1.72 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Viral meningitis is considered to be a benign illness with only mild symptoms. In contrast to viral encephalitis and bacterial meningitis, the prognosis is usually good. However, retrospective studies have demonstrated that patients suffering from viral meningitis may experience cognitive impairment following the acute course of infection. Larger controlled studies are needed to elucidate the potential neuropsychiatric adverse outcome of viral meningitis.
Ugeskrift for laeger 10/2011; 173(41):2560-3.
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ABSTRACT: The study objective was to describe demographic and clinical characteristics among HIV late presenters in a Danish university hospital.
Patients > 15 years of age were enrolled in this retrospective study. Data from the medical patient records were analyzed in accordance with the CD4 count at the time of HIV diagnosis.
Among 194 HIV patients (138 men and 56 women), 63 (33%) were diagnosed with a CD4 count below 200 cells/microlitre (late presenters). Heterosexuals constituted a larger proportion of patients in the late presenter group than did homosexual men (MSM) (p = 0.02), whereas a higher proportion of MSM than heterosexuals were diagnosed with HIV during primary infection (p < 0.01). Half of the late presenters had consulted a general practitioner three to 12 months prior to their HIV diagnosis. HIV antibody testing had not been performed although complaints consistent with possible underlying immune deficiency had been reported. Twenty per cent of the late presenters had a persistently low CD4 count below 200 cells/microlitre at follow-up despite having received HAART therapy for more than two years.
One third of the HIV patients in this study were diagnosed as late presenters, and this group featured a higher proportion of heterosexuals than of MSM. The HIV antibody test should be performed more consistently on solid clinical ground by general practitioners.
Danish medical bulletin 04/2011; 58(4):A4253. · 0.75 Impact Factor
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Peter Derek Christian Leutscher,
Martin Lagging,
Mads Rauning Buhl,
Court Pedersen,
Gunnar Norkrans,
Nina Langeland,
Kristine Mørch,
Martti Färkkilä,
Simon Hjerrild,
Kristoffer Hellstrand,
Per Bech
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ABSTRACT: The Major Depression Inventory (MDI) was used to estimate the value of routine medical interviews in diagnosing major depression among patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (n = 325). According to criteria from the MDI and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), 19 patients (6%) had major depression at baseline. An additional 114 (37%) developed depression while on HCV combination therapy, with baseline MDI score and female sex independently predicting the emergence of major depression during treatment in a multivariate analysis. Only 36 (32%) of the 114 patients developing major depression according to MDI/DSM-IV criteria were correctly diagnosed during routine medical interviews. The emergence of major depression frequently led to premature discontinuation of peginterferon/ribavirin therapy, and an on-treatment MDI score increment exceeding 30 points (i.e., a validated marker of idiopathic DSM-IV major depression) was correlated with impaired outcome of HCV therapy (P = 0.02). This difference was even more pronounced among patients with an on-treatment increase in MDI score greater than 35 points (P = 0.003). Conclusion: We conclude that (1) depressive symptoms among patients undergoing HCV therapy are commonly overlooked by routine clinical interviews, (2) the emergence of depression compromises the outcome of HCV therapy, and (3) the MDI scale may be useful in identifying patients at risk for treatment-induced depression.
Hepatology 08/2010; 52(2):430-5. · 11.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The prevalence of depression is increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Several aetiological mechanisms are thought to be involved, e.g. premorbid psychiatric disease, genetic disposition to affective disorders, socio-economic factors, stigmatization and possibly HCV neuroinfection. Evidence to support that former intravenous drug abuse increases the risk of depression is lacking. It is particularly important to diagnose and treat depression in HCV patients as it constitutes a relative contraindication to antiviral treatment and may jeopardize therapeutic outcome.
Ugeskrift for laeger 06/2010; 172(25):1889-93.
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ABSTRACT: Impaired cognitive function is commonly seen in patients with hepatitis C-virus (HCV). This might be due to a toxic effect of the virus itself or to neuroinflammatory processes with a direct damaging cerebral effect. The symptoms appear in the pre-cirrhotic stage and impair the patient's level of functioning. Therefore, doctors in contact with HCV patients should be up to date on the existing knowledge in the field to be able to inform patients about their cognitive deficits and take them into consideration. It is unknown if the cognitive deficits decline when the virus is eradicated.
Ugeskrift for laeger 02/2010; 172(5):372-6.
