Anil, Abey and Vellaisamy, Seethalakshmi Ganga and Manickam, Navakumar and Gopalan, Kannan (2025) Reactivations, paradoxical reactions, and immune reconstitution in human immunodeficiency virus-associated leprosy: A scoping review of global case patterns, immunopathogenesis, and therapeutic gaps. INDIAN JOURNAL OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND AIDS, 46.0 (2). pp. 112-118. ISSN 2589-0557
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
The intersection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Mycobacterium leprae infection creates unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has revealed leprosy-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (L-IRIS), marked by paradoxical clinical worsening as immune function recovers. This review explores the clinical profiles, immunological mechanisms, and treatment outcomes of L-IRIS and leprosy reactivation in people living with HIV. Scoping review, preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for Scoping review, systematic search: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, LILACS(Latin America and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences), and Cochrane Library for original case reports, case series, and cohort studies documenting HIV-leprosy coinfection and IRIS. Data were extracted across six domains: epidemiology, clinical manifestations, histopathology, immunology, therapy, and evidence gaps. Geographic clustering, immunodeficiency, reversal reactions: Eighteen studies were included, predominantly from Brazil, India, and French Guiana. Borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy was the commonest clinical form; type 1 reactions (T1R) were the most frequent immune events, usually 2-6 months after ART initiation. Most patients had advanced immunosuppression (CD4+ <100/mu L), with clinical IRIS coinciding with immune recovery. Histopathology revealed granulomatous inflammation and CD68+ macrophage infiltration. Standard treatment included World Health Organization-recommended multidrug therapy (MDT) and corticosteroids, yielding generally favorable outcomes; however, there was a lack of consensus on IRIS management, long-term follow-up, and no validated biomarkers for L-IRIS, which remains under-recognized, with significant diversity in presentation and limited standardized diagnostic criteria. Improvement in care requires biomarker validation, consistent outcome tracking, and the creation of context-adapted management pathways. Expanded integrated surveillance and patient-centered research in endemic areas are essential to reduce the dual disease burden.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Antiretroviral therapy, clinical outcome, diagnosis, endemic, epidemiology, granulomatous inflammation, human immunodeficiency virus, leprosy, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, immunology, integrated care, multidrug therapy, reversal reaction |
| Subjects: | Medicine > Infectious Diseases |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Vinayaka Mission's Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospital, Salem > Skin and STD |
| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email techsupport@mosys.org |
| Last Modified: | 06 Feb 2026 06:49 |
| URI: | https://ir.vmrfdu.edu.in/id/eprint/5845 |
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