Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de MedicinaABSTRAcT Introduction: The aim of this study was to determinate the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis among a group of newborns (NBs) from Belém using neonatal screening. Methods: Among the 6,000 newborns referred for investigation of genetic and metabolic diseases, 1,000 were selected for screening for congenital toxoplasmosis by determining the amount of IgM in the eluates of blood collected on filter paper. Positive tests were confirmed using paired serology of the NB and his mother. Results: Out of the 1,000 NBs assessed, one had a positive screening result that was confirmed by paired serology. conclusions: The incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in Belém was 10/10,000 live NBs.

BackgroundInfectious agents can activate self-reactive T cells. In general, infections trigger various mechanisms, including a lack of auto-tolerance, induction of costimulatory molecules on antigen presenting cells, and molecular simulation, in addition to cross-reactions between microbial antigens and self-antigens. HIV and leprosy coinfections lead to self-immunity with the production of autoantibodies. However, not enough data on the immune behaviour associated with this coinfection are available. Therefore, this study focused on the detection of autoantibodies against cellular antigens (AACA) in individuals with HIV and leprosy coinfection in the Amazon region.MethodsPatients were distributed into four groups according to their infections: (i) coinfection with HIV and leprosy (n = 23), (ii) infection with leprosy (n = 33), (iii) infection with HIV/AIDS (n = 25), and (iv) healthy blood donor controls (n = 100). AACA were identified by indirect immunofluorescence and the samples were tested using a commercial diagnosis kit containing the antinuclear antibody HEp-2.ResultsMorphologically, all stages of cell division were assessed in addition to the morphological features associated with the nuclear matrix, nucleolus, mitotic spindle, and cytoplasm. There was a high prevalence of AACA in the coinfection group (47.8%, n = 11) when compared with the control group of healthy blood donors (2.0%). The results showed predominantly cytoplasmic staining in all groups analysed, and no difference was observed between the presence or absence of AACA and the leprosy forms (paucibacillary and multibacillary) in the coinfection group.ConclusionsThe results of this study show that despite the tendency of coinfected patients to have higher levels of autoantibodies, no correlation was observed between clinical and laboratorial variables and morbidity associated with HIV and leprosy coinfections or the levels of AACA in the serum of coinfected patients. These data are important to elucidate this complex relationship between HIV and leprosy and thus improve the follow-up of these patients.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-017-0294-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A CAPS manifesta-se em cerca de 1% dos pacientes com diagnóstico de SAF, apresentando alto índice de mortalidade. Caracteriza-se por acometimento de três ou mais órgãos concomitantemente, ou com intervalos menores do que uma semana, associado à presença de anticorpos antifosfolípides. A fisiopatologia da CAPS ainda não está bem elucidada. No entanto, sabe-se que, na grande maioria dos casos, existe um gatilho que desencadeia trombose nos diversos órgãos e tecidos. A biópsia demonstra a presença da microangiopatia trombótica aguda (MAT), levando a uma vasta gama de diagnósticos diferenciais. O diagnóstico precoce e terapias agressivas são essenciais para resgatar os pacientes dessa condição potencialmente fatal. Além dos tratamentos já descritos, como anticoagulação, plasmaférese e imunoglobulina, novos agentes estão sendo estudados com propostas promissoras, sendo eles o rituximabe e o eculizumabe.