Association of HIV infection with clinical and laboratory characteristics of sickle cell disease

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a multisystem disorder characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and severity. Studies investigating potential effects of co-morbid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and SCD have produced conflicting results, and additional investigations are needed to elucidate whether the interaction between the two disease states might impact both HIV and SCD clinical outcomes. The association of HIV infection with clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with SCD was assessed. Methods: This nested case-control study included individuals with SCD with HIV treated at six Brazilian SCD centers. Clinical and laboratory data were abstracted from medical records. HIV positive participants were compared to age, gender, center, and SCD genotype matched HIV negative participants (ratio 1:4). Individual clinical outcomes as well as a composite outcome of any SCD complication and a composite outcome of any HIV-related complication were compared between the two groups.

Infection and Potential Challenge of Childhood Mortality in Sickle Cell Disease: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature from a Global Perspective

“…HIV infection also creates a favorable environment for pneumococcal infection, which can be fatal, resulting in severe pneumonia or meningitis in SCD adults [138]. A nested case-control study by Belisário et al showed that HIV infection increased the severity of SCD-related symptoms such as ACS/pneumonia, sepsis/bacteremia, pyelonephritis, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, abnormal transcranial doppler, and pulmonary hypertension [139]. Furthermore, National Hospital Discharge Survey data in the period of 1997-2009 showed that SCD is associated with decreased HIV but higher HBV and HCV co-morbidities in adult African-Americans [140].…”

Does Sickle Cell Disease Protect against HIV Infection: A Systematic Review

“…According to Neto et al [ 25 ], HIV infection had no correlation with SCD symptoms; however, a study found that SCD patients had a slower progression of HIV infection into AIDS than their non-SCD counterparts [ 26 ]. Another study showed that SCD patients with HIV face a higher risk of developing SCD complications, despite the fact that it may slow HIV progression and mortality [ 27 ]. Children with SCD and HIV were more likely to suffer from bacterial infections and sepsis than those with SCD alone, and their hospital stays were longer than those without (8.0 days vs. 4.3 days, respectively) [ 28 ].…”