Intracellular protozoan of the genus Leishmania, endemic in the Mediterranean basin, are the cause of cutaneous (CL), mucocutaneous (MCL), and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A 75-year-old woman was admitted nine years after a second kidney transplant (KT), due to persistent pancytopenia and fever. She presented edema and erythema of the nose in the last two years and an exophytic nodular lesion located on the left arm, with areas of peripheral necrosis and central ulceration in the last 18 months. A bone marrow biopsy revealed features compatible with Leishmania amastigotes, and polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) for Leishmania infantum was positive. Moreover, biopsy and PCR for L. infantum of the cutaneous lesion on the patient’s left arm and nose and PCR from peripheral blood were positive. Thus, a diagnosis of CL, MCL, and VL was made, and liposomal amphotericin B was initiated, but the patient had an unfavorable outcome and died. This is the first report of a KT recipient presenting with the entire spectrum of leishmaniasis. In Portugal, this infection is rare—so a high degree of clinical suspicion is required for its diagnosis, especially in endemic regions, as visceral leishmaniasis is a potentially life-threatening infection.
Background Genital warts are the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) and are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Persistent anal infection by oncogenic genotypes of HPV is a determinant for anal cancer. Currently, anal cancer screening is not widely implemented. Objectives Our aim is to evaluate the role of perianal warts as a risk marker for anal high-risk (HR) HPV detection and anal dysplasia. Methods In this observational, retrospective, cohort study of attendees of a STI outpatient clinic between January 2010 and June 2018, all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) who performed anal cytology, anal HPV DNA detection and anoscopy were included. A comparison was made between patients with and without perianal warts. Primary endpoint: proportion of patients with an abnormal anal cytology. Secondary endpoints: proportion of patients with (i) anal HR-HPV detection; (ii) anal HPV 16 detection; (iii) abnormal anal biopsy; and (iv) anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). Results Seventy-eight individuals were included: 39 with perianal warts and 39 without perianal warts. Subjects with perianal warts more frequently had an abnormal anal cytology (71.8% vs. 38.5%; P = 0.003). This group also had a higher rate of anal HPV 16 detection (38.5% vs. 12.8%; P = 0.01). No differences were detected in the proportion of patients with anal HR-HPV detection, with an abnormal anal biopsy or with anal HSIL. Perianal warts was an independent risk factor for an abnormal anal cytology (OR: 7.2) and for anal HPV 16 detection (OR: 6.7). Conclusion Given the high risk of anal cancer in HIV-positive MSM, effective screening strategies are greatly needed. This study suggests that the presence of perianal warts is a suitable risk marker for anal HPV 16 detection and anal dysplasia.
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