Background/aim: This study was undertaken to identify subjects with human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis (HIV/TB) coinfection in a group of HIV-positive patients followed at five different healthcare centers, and to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of these subjects as well as the predictors of mortality. Materials and methods: A database search for subjects with TB coinfection was performed among 1475 HIV-positive adult patients and a total of 66 individuals were identified with HIV/TB coinfection. Results: There were 66 patients (4.5%) with TB coinfection. Twenty-one percent (n = 14) of the patients with TB coinfection died during the study period and these patients had significantly lower baseline CD4 counts at the time of TB diagnosis (P = 0.005). None of the patients with CD4 count of ≥200 cells/mm3 died during follow-up and a low CD4 count at the time of TB diagnosis (<200 cells/ mm3) was associated with poor survival (P = 0.012). However, none of the parameters emerged as significant independent predictors of survival in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Coexistence of TB and HIV infection is associated with many clinical challenges and a better understanding of patient characteristics as well as the parameters impacting the outcome will improve the quality of care provided for this group of patients.

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Giriş: İnsan immünyetmezlik virüsü (HIV) pozitif bireylerde osteopeni/osteoporoz varlığı ve buna etki eden faktörlerle ilgili çalışmalar günümüzde de devam etmektedir. Gelişmekte olan ülkelerde bu konu ile ilgili veriler kısıtlıdır.

Background: Efficacy of elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (E/C/F/TDF) in treatment-naïve and experienced patients with HIV infection was demonstrated in phase 3 trials. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of E/C/F/TDF in real world settings. Methods: Retrospective, observational data collected by the Turkish ACTHIV-IST study group between May 2015 and December 2016 were analysed. Results: A total of 387 patients were prescribed E/C/F/TDF; 210 patients with available data at 6th month were eligible; 91.5% were male, and mean age was 35.2 (SD: 10.8) years; 54.0% of males identified themselves as MSM. Sixty-three percent (133) of the study population were treatment-naïve patients, and 37% (77) were treatment experienced. HIV RNA level was below 100 copies/mL in 78.9% of treatment-naïve patients and 89.9% of treatment experienced patients at month 6. Median increase in CD4 T lymphocyte count was 218 copies/mL in treatment-naïve patients and remained stable or increased in treatment experienced patients. Adverse events were observed in 15% of the patients, and the regimen was discontinued in only six patients. Conclusion: Real world data on the effectiveness and safety of E/C/F/TDF is comparable with the phase 3 trial results Adverse events are uncommon and manageable. Keywords: Elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; HIV; effectiveness; safety.

Introduction: EBV infection is a common condition usually characterized by an asymptomatic course. Its diagnosis is gaining importance due to the increasing number of immunosuppressive patients. This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA test in detection of EBV VCA IgG when IFA is considered the reference standard. In addition, the agreement between the two tests was examined. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 children admitting to the outpatient clinics between March and June 2003 were included in this study. Sixty-five had sore throat, cervical lymphadenopathy and fever whereas 35 were children without these signs and symptoms who admitted for other reasons. Patients were evaluated for the presence of EBV VCA IgG. The specificity and sensitivity of ELISA method were estimated in reference to IFA, and the agreement between the two methods was examined. Results: EBV VCA IgG was positive in 83 (83%) cases and 74 (74%) cases using IFA and ELISA methods, respectively. In 10 cases, EBV VCA IgG was positive on IFA examination, whereas negative with ELISA. In one case with positive ELISA test, serology was negative with IFA examination. Thus, when IFA method was taken the reference, ELISA method had 88% and 94% sensitivity and specificity in detecting EBV VCA IgG, respectively. Conclusion: Findings of this study indicates that the two methods are in agreement for detecting EBV VCA IgG positivity. ELISA appears to be an alternative for IFA for the assessment of EBV VCA IgG serology.

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