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Background. The incidence of malignancy is heightened in individuals infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Despite a decrease in the incidence of HIV infection resulting from antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prevalence of HIV-associated malignancies remains substantial. Objective. Our objective was to examine the types of cancer that initially manifest in individuals infected with HIV or emerge during their subsequent observation period. Material and method. The study conducted a retrospective analysis of demographic characteristics, malignancy types, presenting symptoms, mode of transmission, HIV-RNA levels, and CD4/CD8 ratios in individuals living with HIV who developed malignancies and were under follow-up at the Infectious Diseases Polyclinic between October 2018 and December 2022. Results. Out of the 465 patients who were monitored during the study, 27 individuals (5.8%) were diagnosed with various malignancies. Among these patients, 22 (81%) were men and 5 (19%) were women. The average age of the patients ranged from 45.87 to 9.12 years. Among the patients, 17 (63%) were married and 10 (17%) were single. In terms of education, 16 patients (59.3%) had completed primary school, 7 patients (25.9%) were university graduates, and 4 patients (14.8%) had completed high school. The mode of HIV transmission in all patients was through sexual intercourse. The reasons for testing varied, with 8 patients (29.7%) being tested due to fever, 6 patients (22.2%) before undergoing surgery, 3 patients (11.1%) due to weight loss, and 2 patients (7.4%) tested for reasons such as job application, diarrhea, pre-blood donation, lymphadenomegaly, and dysphagia. The most common types of malignancies observed in the patients were non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) with 11 cases (40.7%), followed by Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) with 5 cases (18.5%), and cervical carcinoma with 3 cases (11.1%). Conclusion. The incidence of cancer is higher among individuals with HIV. There is a need to enhance the awareness among both healthcare providers who specialize in HIV care and those who do not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the overall characteristics and clinical and laboratory data of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) cases followed up in our clinic during the pandemic. Material and Methods: Our study included 60 HIV/AIDS patients who were followed up in our center between January 1, 2020 and June 1, 2022. This study was conducted at the Department of Infection Disease, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital. Retrospective crosssectional study. Results: In this study, 57 were male (95%), 3 were female (5%), and the median age was 35 (27-45) years. The median value of HIV-RNA was 168.31 IU/mL. In serological tests, 36% (n=21) of the patients were positive for Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody, cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG (n=59) 98%, anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) (n=2) 3.4%, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) (n=10) 17%, and T. pallidum antibody (n=15) 25.9%. CD4 T-cell count: 329 cells/µL, 17% CD4, CD8 cell count: 888 cells/µL, 53% CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio: 0.35. The prevalence of serological markers of the patients was as follows: antihepatitis A virus IgG was positive in 45 (77.6%), hepatitis B surface antigen 0%, hepatitis B surface antibody 32 (55.2%), hepatitis B core antibody-IgG 17 (29.3%), anti-HCV 2 (3.4%), VDRL 10 (17.2%), anti-Treponema pallidum 15 (25.9%), CMV-IgG 59 (98%), and Toxo-IgG 21 (36.2%). Conclusion: In recent years, it has been observed that our patients can express their sexual identities more easily, and therefore, the rate of unknown transmission has decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to determine the utility of CD4 T lymphocyte counts and percentages and CD4/CD8 ratios as markers for the progression of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) to active tuberculosis (TB) infection in HIV-positive patients followed in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Polyclinic of our hospital. Methods: The files of 530 HIV-positive patients were retrospectively analyzed. "Tuberculin skin test" (TST) was applied after the anti-HIV test was positive. Asymptomatic patients with a TST =5 mm were considered TB negative, patients with a TST =5 mm were considered LTBI, and all symptomatic patients (fever, cough, night sweats, weight loss) regardless of TST result were considered as active TB infection. CD4 counts and percentages and CD4/CD8 ratios were calculated and the relationship between LTBI and active TB infection was evaluated using Mann-Whitney U test and independent sample t-test. Results: During the specified period, 530 patients were admitted to the HIV Outpatient Clinic. There were 43 (8.11%) patients in the LTBI group, of whom 4 (9.3%) were female and 39 (90.7%) were male. CD4 was <200 mm² in 7 (16.3%) patients and >200 mm² in 36 (83.7%) patients. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio was 0.55 (0.08-1.45). 21 (3.96%) patients had symptoms of fever, cough, night sweats and weight loss and were diagnosed with active TB infection. Among these patients, 1 (4.8%) was female and 20 (95.2%) were male. CD4 was <200 mm² in 5 (23.8%) patients and >200 mm² in 16 (76.2%) patients. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio was 0.38 (0.07-1.8). The difference in CD4 counts between patients with LTBI and active TB infection was not significant, but the difference in CD4/CD8 ratio was significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: Immune dysfunction that occurs in HIV and TB co-infection facilitates the activation of LTBI. While CD4 counts and CD4 percentages were not significant as risk markers, CD4/CD8 ratio was found as significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giriş: Bu çalışmada insan bağışıklık yetmezliği virüsü (HIV) nedeniyle polikliniğimizde takip edilen hastalarda AIDS tanımlayıcı hastalık sıklığını görmek amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntem: 2018-2023 yılları arasında hastanemiz enfeksiyon hastalıkları ve klinik mikrobiyoloji polikliniğine başvuran ve takipleri yapılan HIV pozitif hastalar geriye yönelik olarak incelendi. Hastaların ilk başvuru sırasında AIDS tanımlayıcı hastalık belirtileri, HIV-RNA ve CD4 sayıları, eşlik eden komorbid durumlar irdelendi. Bulgular: Yaşları 21 ile 66 arasında değişen, 5 (%10) kadın ve 45 (%90) erkek, HIV tanımlayıcı hastalık olan 50 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. En sık görülen AIDS tanımlayıcı hastalık Pneumocystis jirovecii (n=19, %38) pnömonisiydi. Bunu sırasıyla lenfoma (n=9, %18), sifilitik üveit (n=7, %14), Kaposi sarkomu (n=7, %14), kandida özefajiti (n=6, %12), toksoplazma keratit ve ensefaliti (n=2, %4), kriptokok menenjiti (n=2, %4), sitomegalovirüs retiniti (n=2, %4) ve bir hastada progresif multifokal lökoensefalopati idi. Hastaların 5'inde (%10) birden fazla HIV tanımlayıcı hastalık mevcuttu. HIV-RNA düzeyi 0-14093638 kopya/ml (ortalama: 1158750 kopya/ml) arasında ve CD4 sayısı 1-1314/μl (356) arasında değişmekteydi (hastalık gruplarına göre HIV-RNA ve CD4 sayıları ve ortalamaları Tablo 1'de özetlenmiştir). Sonuç: AIDS tanımlayıcı hastalıklar neoplazmlar, viral, bakteriyel, parazitik, fungal enfeksiyonlar şeklinde karşımıza çıkabilmektedir. Farklı şikayetlerle başvuru yapan hastalarda tanımlayıcı hastalıkların varlığı HIV enfeksiyonunu düşündürmeli ve gerekli tetkikleri istenmelidir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]