title: Opportunistic diseases in HIV-infected patients in Gabon following the administration of highly active antiretroviral therapy: a retrospective study.
abstract: Opportunistic diseases cause substantial morbidity and mortality to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) leading to immune reconstitution is the most effective treatment of preventing opportunistic diseases. This retrospective study established an epidemiologic profile of opportunistic diseases 10 years after the introduction of HAART. The HIV antiretroviral therapy-naive patients matching inclusion criteria were included. The primary outcome was the prevalence of opportunistic diseases. From January 1, 2002 to September 30, 2010, 654 opportunistic diseases were identified in 458 patients. Pulmonary tuberculosis, herpes zoster, cerebral toxoplasmosis, oral candidiasis, and severe pneumonia accounted for 22.05%, 15.94%, 14.19%, 14.19%, and 9.39%, respectively. Cryptococcal meningitis and pneumocystosis accounted for 0.44% and 0.21%, respectively. The prevalence of opportunistic diseases in Gabon remains high. New guidelines emphasize the importance of initiating antiretroviral therapy early to reconstitute the immune system, and reduce disease risk, and treat the primary opportunistic infection of pulmonary tuberculosis.
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Health Sciences - Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Libreville, Gabon; Union's Office in Myanmar - Infectious Diseases, Naypyidaw, Myanmar; Centre Hospitalier de Denain, Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, 25 bis rue Jean Jaurès, 59723, Denain cedex, France.
authors: Madeleine
authors: M
authors: Okome-Nkoumou
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Guiyedi
authors: Magloire
authors: M
authors: Ondounda
authors: Nora
authors: N
authors: Efire
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Clevenbergh
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Dibo
authors: Arnaud
authors: A
authors: Dzeing-Ella
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control