3.1% of HIV-infected inpatients with CD4 <200 cells/μl without symptomatic meningitis had cryptococcal antigenemia in São Paulo, suggesting that routine CRAG screening may be beneficial in similar settings in South America. Our study reveals another targeted population for CRAG screening: hospitalised HIV-infected patients with CD4 <200 cells/μl, regardless of ART status. Whole blood CRAG LFA screening seems to be a simple strategy to prevention of symptomatic meningitis.

Metabolic disorders are frequently observed in pediatric patients with renal lithiasis. Objectives: Study the metabolic and anatomical alterations and perform the chemical analysis of stones found in children with nephrolithiasis in our region. Methods: A retrospective study on 158 children with evidence of recent renal stone formation was performed. One hundred and nine children concluded the metabolic study. Laboratory investigation consisted in two samples of 24-hour urine for calcium, uric acid, citrate, oxalate, sodium and creatinine; qualitative cystinuria, urinary pH following 12-hour fasting and water restriction, urine culture and chemical analysis when the stones were available. Renal imaging techniques included, at least, renal ultrasound and excretory urogram. Results: A cause for nephrolithiasis was identified in 96.3% of children. The main metabolic alteration was hypercalciuria (73.4%). Chemical analysis of stones showed calcium oxalate in 90.9% of the cases. Anatomical alterations were found in 18.0% of the investigated cases and the most frequently found alteration was pyelo-ureteral duplication (28.6%). Conclusions: Hypercalciuria was the most frequently found disorder and pyelo-ureteral duplication was the most common anatomical alteration; moreover, calcium oxalate was the most frequent chemical constituent. The present study showed the characteristics of pediatric patients with nephrolithiasis in our region.

Fetal and neonatal hemolytic anemia can be caused by (γδβ)(0)-thalassemia deletions of the β-globin gene cluster. Many of these deletions have not been well characterized, and diagnostic tests are not readily available, thus hampering carrier detection, family counseling, and antenatal diagnosis. We report and define a 198 kb deletion removing the entire β-globin gene cluster, which was found in members of a multigeneration family of Irish/Scottish descent. The proband had life-threatening fetal and neonatal hemolytic anemia which subsided by 1 year of age.

Resumo Este artigo aborda as hepatites virais, tema tratado no Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas para Atenção Integral às Pessoas com Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis e, mais precisamente, nos Protocolos Clínicos e Diretrizes Terapêuticas para Hepatite B e para Hepatite C e Coinfecções, publicados pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil. Além do espectro ampliado de acometimento da saúde, os vírus das hepatites A, B e C também apresentam diferentes formas de transmissão, seja parenteral, sexual, vertical ou oral. Entre as estratégias sugeridas para o controle das hepatites virais, além das medidas comportamentais, estão o diagnóstico ampliado, a vacinação precoce contra os vírus da hepatite A e hepatite B e o acesso aos recursos terapêuticos disponíveis. Considerando a transmissão vertical dos vírus da hepatite B e hepatite C, a triagem das gestantes portadoras crônicas desses vírus é uma importante estratégia de saúde perinatal, indicando com precisão quem pode se beneficiar das intervenções profiláticas disponíveis.

No abstract

Regulations for the vaccination of pregnant women in Brazil occurred in March 2021. Despite the absence of robust data in the literature on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations in pregnant women, it is understood that the benefit-risk ratio tends to be favorable when considering the pandemic and the high burden of the disease. However, it is still important to monitor for Events Supposedly Attributable to Vaccination or Immunization (ESAVI) and to draw safety profiles of the different platforms used in pregnant and postpartum women. The present study aims to describe the main characteristics of ESAVIs related to COVID-19 vaccines occurring in pregnant women in the first months of the vaccination campaign in Brazil. During the evaluation period, 1,674 notifications of ESAVIs in pregnant women were recorded, and 582 notifications were included for the analysis. Of the 582 ESAVIs identified, 481 (82%) were classified as non-serious adverse events and 101 (17%) as serious adverse events. Ten deaths were identified, including one death which was considered to be causally related to the vaccine. The other nine maternal deaths had causality C, that is, without causal relationship with the vaccine, and most were due to complications inherent to pregnancy, such as pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder (PSHD) in 4 cases and 3 due to COVID-19. Despite some limitations in our study, we believe it brings new insights into COVID-19 vaccines in this group and will add to the available evidence.

This article discusses viral hepatitis, a theme addressed by the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines to Comprehensive Care for People with Sexually Transmitted Infections and, more precisely, by the Clinical Protocols and Therapeutic Guidelines for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C and Coinfections, published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Besides the broad spectrum of health impairment, hepatitis A, B, and C viruses also present different transmission forms, whether parenteral, sexual, vertical, or fecal-oral. Among the strategies suggested for the control of viral hepatitis, in addition to behavioral measures, are expanded diagnosis, early vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses, and access to available therapeutic resources. Considering vertical transmission of the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, screening for pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B and C is an essential perinatal health strategy, indicating with precision those who can benefit from the prophylactic interventions.

5171 Infants who are heterozygous for a number of (γδβ)0-thalassemia deletions are known to present with neonatal hemolytic anemia (Koenig et al, Am J Hematol 84:603, 2009). The breakpoints for most of these large deletions have not been identified. Molecular diagnoses of these deletions therefore can be challenging. We now report an infant girl of Irish/Scottish descent with self-limited fetal and neonatal hemolytic anemia, in whom we have defined the extent of the large deletion removing the entire β-globin gene cluster. At 32-week of gestation, fetal tachycardia prompted percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling, which revealed a hematocrit of 14%. Umbilical cord transfusion was undertaken followed by Caesarean section delivery. Brisk hemolysis continued in the first few days of life (reticulocyte count of 22 – 24%), with no other causes of hemolysis identified. In the following weeks, the infant was transfused on three occasions. After 2-month of age, she became transfusion-independent with a stable microcytic anemia. The infant's mother also had a history of hemolytic anemia requiring transfusion in the neonatal period, and subsequently became transfusion independent with a microcytic anemia. The mother and several of her family members were extensively investigated, and shown to have a novel (γδβ)0-thalassemia deletion of over 100 kb (Pirastu et al, J Clin Invest 72:602, 1983). Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was carried out in the genomic DNA from the present neonate. The infant was heterozygous for a large deletion spanning at least from 5′ to the HS 5 of the LCR to 3′ of the β-globin gene. Sequential gap-PCR reactions and nucleotide sequencing were done. The deletion was characterized with its 5` breakpoint at nt 5,376,341 and 3` breakpoint at nt 5,178,572 (GenBank NT_009237). The deletion measures 197,770 bp, removing the β-globin LCR, all of the β-like globin genes, and several olfactory receptor genes. A diagnostic gap-PCR test was established for detection of this deletion. This case illustrates the syndrome of neonatal hemolytic anemia caused by large deletions removing the entire β-globin gene cluster. MLPA is a useful tool to screen for these deletions. The pathophysiology of these self-limited and sometimes severe fetal and neonatal hemolytic anemias is presently not understood. We speculate that expression of α-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP) and/or the proteolytic capacity to degrade excess α-globin chains within erythroid cells might be diminished during fetal and neonatal development, accounting for increased red cell membrane damage and hemolysis in affected fetuses and neonates. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.