abacavir and Influenza--Human

Differentiation between abacavir hypersensitivity and viral respiratory infections is problematic. Fifteen cases of abacavir hypersensitivity were matched to 30 controls with culture proven influenza A with no abacavir exposure. Rash was associated with hypersensitivity (odds ratio [OR] = 13.1, P = 0.02) as was the presence of nausea (OR = 30, P < 0.001), vomiting (OR = 17.1, P = 0.001) or diarrhoea (OR = 22, P < 0.001). The number of gastrointestinal symptoms was also predictive of hypersensitivity reaction (P < 0.001). Respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, or dyspnoea) were not associated with abacavir hypersensitivity (OR = 0.08, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed the following associations for abacavir hypersensitivity: the number of gastrointestinal symptoms (OR = 8.6, P = 0.0032), cough (OR = 0.039, P = 0.02) and rash (OR = 16.9, P = 0.07). Abacavir hypersensitivity is strongly associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Cough without GI symptoms is associated with influenza.

Topics: Anti-HIV Agents; Case-Control Studies; Cough; Diagnosis, Differential; Dideoxynucleosides; Drug Eruptions; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; HIV Infections; Humans; Influenza A virus; Influenza, Human; Logistic Models; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Retrospective Studies

Influenza is a major cause of morbidity for people with significant underlying disease, but the impact of influenza on people infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains unclear. We studied a population of HIV-infected adults during the 1998-1999 influenza season to see whether influenza had any adverse effects on the course of HIV infection. During 5 months of follow-up, we found no unique clinical manifestations or negative impact on CD4(+) cell count, virus load, or clinical progression of HIV disease. Although half of our cohort received antibiotic therapy, none received specific anti-influenza therapy and none required hospitalization. Acute influenza does not appear to be a risk for progression of HIV disease.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Anti-HIV Agents; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Dideoxynucleosides; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Influenza Vaccines; Influenza, Human; Male; Middle Aged; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Anti-HIV Agents; Antiviral Agents; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dideoxynucleosides; Enzyme Inhibitors; Guanidines; Hepatitis B; Humans; Influenza, Human; Lamivudine; Neuraminidase; Pyrans; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; Sialic Acids; Zanamivir