Vnitr Lek 2024, 70(2):131-137 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2024.026

What´s new in Infectology?

Petr Husa, Svatava Snopková, Petr Husa ml.

Klinika infekčních chorob Lékařské fakulty MU Brno a FN Brno

Infectious diseases are still a major health, social and economic problem in the 21st century. New treatment options for HIV and viral hepatitis D, the increasing incidence of viral hepatitis E and alveococcosis in the Czech Republic are discussed. In all cases, these are highly topical issues that are important in the Czech Republic and internationally. Long-acting slow effective release antiretroviral therapy (LASER ART) represents the most advanced form of modification of antiretroviral therapy (ART). It has been available in the Czech Republic since February 2023. According to clinical trials, 90-98 % of patients prefer a long-term regimen. Bulevirtide (BLV) is a synthetic lipopeptide, consisting of 47 amino acids from the preS1 domain of the large HBsAg protein, which binds to a specific receptor (sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide - NTCP) on the surface of liver cells, thereby preventing HDV from entering the hepatocyte. BLV is the first approved antiviral drug for the treatment of hepatitis D in patients with compensated liver disease. The number of reported cases of acute hepatitis E in the Czech Republic from 2016-2021 was mostly around 200-250 cases per year. There will be an increase to 319 cases of acute hepatitis E in 2022 and even 684 cases in 2023. What is causing this is not yet definitively determined, but it is very likely that this increase is related to the increased prevalence of HEV infection in reservoir animals. Alveolar echinococcosis is caused by tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis sensu lato. In Europe, foxes are the most common definitive host and rodents (mice, voles, etc.) are intermediate hosts. Transmission of infection occurs by ingestion of eggs contained in the faeces of definitive hosts: berries, mushrooms, wild garlic and other foods contaminated with the faeces of infected foxes. Clinically, the disease manifests itself as an invasive hepatic process similar in growth and spread to a malignant tumour, including the possibility of metastatic dissemination to other organs.

Keywords: HIV infection, AIDS, LASER ART, hepatitis D, bulevirtide, hepatitis E, alveolar echinococcosis, alveococcosis.

Accepted: March 26, 2024; Published: April 10, 2024  Show citation