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The Lancet. Infectious Diseases Jan 2020Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus that causes a lifelong infection. Several diseases, including an aggressive form of leukaemia, have... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus that causes a lifelong infection. Several diseases, including an aggressive form of leukaemia, have been designated as associated with HTLV-1, whereby having HTLV-1 is a necessary condition for diagnosis. Beyond these diseases, there is uncertainty about other health effects of HTLV-1. We aimed to synthesise evidence from epidemiological studies on associations between health outcomes and HTLV-1.
METHODS
For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Embase, MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, and Global Health for publications from their inception to July, 2018. We included cohort, case-control, and controlled cross-sectional studies that compared mortality or morbidity between people with and without HTLV-1. We excluded studies of psychiatric conditions, of symptoms or clinical findings only, of people who had undergone blood transfusion or organ transplant, and of population groups defined by a behavioural characteristic putting them at increased risk of co-infection with another virus. We extracted the risk estimates (relative risks [RRs] or odds ratios [ORs]) that reflected the greatest degree of control for potential confounders. We did a random-effects meta-analysis for groups of effect estimates where case ascertainment methods, age groups, and confounders were similar, presenting pooled estimates with 95% CIs and prediction intervals.
FINDINGS
Of the 3318 identified studies, 39 met the inclusion criteria, examining 42 clinical conditions between them. The adjusted risk of death due to any cause was higher in people with HTLV-1 when compared with HTLV-1-negative counterparts (RR 1·57, 95% CI 1·37-1·80). From meta-analysis, HTLV-1 was associated with increased odds of seborrheic dermatitis (OR 3·95, 95% CI 1·99-7·81), Sjogren's syndrome (3·25, 1·85-5·70), and, inversely, with lower relative risk of gastric cancer (RR 0·45, 0·28-0·71). There were a further 14 diseases with significant associations or substantially elevated risk with HTLV-1 from single studies (eczema [children]; bronchiectasis, bronchitis and bronchiolitis [analysed together]; asthma [males]; fibromyalgia; rheumatoid arthritis; arthritis; tuberculosis; kidney and bladder infections; dermatophytosis; community acquired pneumonia; strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome; liver cancer; lymphoma other than adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma; and cervical cancer).
INTERPRETATION
There is a broad range of diseases studied in association with HTLV-1. However, the elevated risk for death among people with HTLV-1 is not explained by available studies of morbidity. Many of the diseases shown to be associated with HTLV-1 are not fatal, and those that are (eg, leukaemia) occur too rarely to account for the observed mortality effect. There are substantial research gaps in relation to HTLV-1 and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic disease. The burden of disease associated with the virus might be broader than generally recognised.
FUNDING
Commonwealth Department of Health, Australia.
Topics: Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Bronchitis; Eczema; Epidemiologic Studies; HTLV-I Infections; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1; Humans
PubMed: 31648940
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30402-5 -
Journal of Travel Medicine Mar 2020Gestational helminth infections are correlated to adverse outcomes including maternal anaemia; as such, treatment is recommended. However, little published high-quality... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Gestational helminth infections are correlated to adverse outcomes including maternal anaemia; as such, treatment is recommended. However, little published high-quality data exist around the efficacy, safety and tolerability of anti-helminthics in pregnancy. We therefore conducted a systematic review and synthesized the available data on maternal outcomes following gestational treatment of intestinal nematodes to help guide clinical decision-making.
METHODS
Five electronic databases were searched for studies reporting the efficacy, safety or tolerability of anti-helminthic drugs for gestational treatment of intestinal nematodes. Studies were systematically screened followed by data extraction. Trial quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. We conducted a narrative synthesis followed by meta-analyses using random effects models as appropriate. Data were summarized using qualitative and quantitative measures for specific parasitic infections as well as efficacy and safety of anti-parasitic agents. Outcomes of interest included maternal anaemia, minor adverse outcomes, pregnancy loss, pre-mature delivery, prevalence of infection and cure rate.
RESULTS
Twenty-three studies were included. Gestational treatment with albendazole had cure rates up to 90% for hookworm and Ascaris, but only 50% for Trichuris. Mebendazole had an overall cure rate of ≤ 70% for Ascaris, hookworm and Trichuris. Pooled relative risk reduction of hookworm prevalence at delivery with albendazole compared to placebo was 90% (95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.15; n = 2; I2 = 0%). Rate of pregnancy loss and haemoglobin concentration did not differ between albendazole or mebendazole vs placebo, and rates of pre-term delivery were similar in albendazole-treated pregnant women vs controls. Ivermectin demonstrated a cure rate of 29% for hookworm and 56% for Trichuris in pregnant women. No serious adverse events were attributable to any drug studied.
CONCLUSIONS
With increased international travel and migration of vulnerable populations, practitioners will encounter nematode infections in pregnant patients. Our analysis supports that albendazole in pregnancy has high cure rates for soil-transmitted helminths and is safe for the mother.
Topics: Albendazole; Animals; Anthelmintics; Female; Helminthiasis; Helminths; Humans; Pregnancy; Soil; Travel-Related Illness
PubMed: 31641774
DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taz079 -
PloS One 2019Co-infection of intestinal helminthic infections (IHIs) and tuberculosis (TB) has appeared as a public health issue, especially in developing countries. Some recent... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Co-infection of intestinal helminthic infections (IHIs) and tuberculosis (TB) has appeared as a public health issue, especially in developing countries. Some recent studies have been carried out on the possible relevance of IHIs to TB. The current systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of IHIs among TB patients and clarify the relationship between IHIs and TB disease.
METHODS
For the purpose of the study, five English databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Google scholar were searched (up to January 30, 2019) in order to find the related studies. Random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence, odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied.
RESULTS
A total of 20 studies including 10 studies with case-control design (2217 patients and 2520 controls) and 10 studies with cross-sectional design (a total of 2415 participants) met the eligibility criteria. As shown by the random-effects model, the pooled prevalence of IHIs in TB patients was estimated to be 26% (95% CI, 17-35%; 1249/4632). The risk of IHI was higher in TB patients compared to controls but this was not statistically significant. However, according to genus/species, the pooled OR of Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.59-4.54) had a significantly higher risk in TB patients compared to controls. Nevertheless, the results of random effects model showed no statistically significant association between overall pooled OR of IHIs in TB patients compared to controls in case-control studies (OR, 1; 95% CI, 0-1).
CONCLUSIONS
It is highly recommended that more precise studies should be carried out by researchers in order to better understand this association. Also, it is of great importance to include the periodic screenings for IHIs in the routine clinical care of these patients.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Case-Control Studies; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Helminths; Humans; Intestines; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Publication Bias; Risk Factors; Tuberculosis; Young Adult
PubMed: 31613921
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223722 -
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases Nov 2019Strongyloidiasis is caused by nematode infections of the genus Strongyloides, mainly Strongyloides stercoralis, and affects tens of millions of people around the world.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Strongyloidiasis is caused by nematode infections of the genus Strongyloides, mainly Strongyloides stercoralis, and affects tens of millions of people around the world. S. stercoralis hyperinfection and disseminated strongyloidiasis are unusual but potentially fatal conditions mostly due to Gram-negative bacteremia and sepsis, primarily affecting immunocompromised patients. Infections with immunosuppressive viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Human T-cell leucemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) have been reported as risk factors for strongyloidiasis. Hyperinfection syndrome has been described in HIV-positive patients following the use of corticosteroids or during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). In this research, we conducted a global systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the seroprevalence and odds ratios (ORs) of S. stercoralis infections in HIV-infected patients. A total of 3,649 records were screened, 164 studies were selected and evaluated in more detail, and 94 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of S. stercoralis infection in HIV positive patients was 5.1% (CI95%: 4%-6.3%), and a meta-analysis on six studies showed that with a pooled OR of 1.79 (CI95%: 1.18%-2.69%) HIV-positive men are at a higher risk of S. stercoralis infections (p < .0052) compared to HIV positive women.
Topics: Animals; HIV Infections; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Strongyloides stercoralis; Strongyloidiasis
PubMed: 31359566
DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13310 -
Tropical Medicine & International... Sep 2019Rheumatologic disease patients receiving immunomodulating drugs such as methotrexate (MTX) have increased infection rates. Strongyloides, a global endemic intestinal...
OBJECTIVE
Rheumatologic disease patients receiving immunomodulating drugs such as methotrexate (MTX) have increased infection rates. Strongyloides, a global endemic intestinal parasite, can cause significant or fatal disease in immunocompromised patients. The risk of serious Strongyloides infection with MTX dosed for rheumatologic disease is unknown.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature review searching EMBASE, Medline and Web of Science databases. All studies reporting humans exposed to MTX and tested for Strongyloides were reviewed. Exclusion criteria were bone marrow transplantation, intrathecal route and MTX exposure completed >1 year prior to clinically apparent Strongyloides disease.
RESULTS
After excluding duplicates, 294 articles were reviewed. Of these, 29 cases were described in 27 papers. Twenty cases (69%) had an underlying rheumatologic or dermatologic disease, the rest had a haematologic disease. Hyperinfection or dissemination was found in 59% of cases (52% low-dose MTX; 75% high-dose MTX). Death occurred in 34% of cases (19% low-dose MTX; 75% high-dose MTX, P < 0.01). All eight patients on high-dose MTX received other immunosuppressants. Corticosteroids were taken in 18/21 patients on low-dose MTX. One of the three patients on MTX monotherapy had hyperinfection syndrome. None had disseminated Strongyloides.
CONCLUSIONS
Serious Strongyloides infection can occur with low-dose MTX particularly when given with other immunosuppression. Global travel and greater awareness of rheumatologic conditions in low- to middle-income countries will increase the exposure of individuals prescribed MTX (with or without corticosteroids) to Strongyloides. Strongyloides screening and treatment should be considered for individuals receiving low-dose MTX therapy, particularly if combined with additional immunosuppression.
Topics: Comorbidity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Methotrexate; Severity of Illness Index; Strongyloidiasis
PubMed: 31302948
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13288