Browsing by Author "Chang, Aileen Y."

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    Compression Therapy for HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma Leg Lymphedema: Results of the Kenyan Improvised Compression for Kaposi Sarcoma Randomized Controlled Trial
    (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2022) Chang, Aileen Y.; Karwa, Rakhi; Odhiambo, Haji; Were, Phelix; Fletcher, Sara L.; Tonui, Edith C.; Kohn, Michael A.; Lee, Jeannette; Chang, Di; Lensing, Shelly; Namaemba, Diana Flora; Busakhala, Naftali; Kiprono, Samson K.; Maurer, Toby; Goodrich, Suzanne; Pastakia, Sonak D.; Dermatology, School of Medicine
    Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of compression while receiving chemotherapy compared with chemotherapy alone in the treatment of HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) lymphedema. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a single oncology clinic in western Kenya (NCT03404297). A computer-generated randomization schedule was used to allocate treatment arms. Randomized block design was used for stratification by lymphedema stage. Participants were HIV positive adults age ≥ 18 years on antiretroviral therapy with biopsy-proven KS associated with leg lymphedema and being initiated on chemotherapy. The intervention was 10 weeks of weekly clinic-based application of two-component paste compression bandages. The primary outcome was change in the Lower Extremity Lymphedema Index (LELI) score from week 0 to week 14. The secondary outcomes were change in the Lymphedema Quality of Life measure (LYMQOL) and change in the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 score from week 0 to week 14. Blinded outcome assessments were conducted. Results: Of 30 participants randomly assigned, 25 eligible patients (chemotherapy [control], n = 13; compression plus chemotherapy [intervention], n = 12) returned at week 14. Change in LELI, LYMQOL, and EORTC QLQ-C30 scores between week 14 and week 0 did not significantly differ by arm. The mean (standard deviation) change in LELI score was -25.9 (34.6) for the control arm compared with -13.3 (29.5) for the intervention arm, P = .340. The difference (95% CI) in the change in LELI score was -12.6 (-39.3 to 14.1). Conclusion: Future studies evaluating a 14-week change in LELI for KS lymphedema should assume a standard deviation of approximately 30. Lessons learned from this pilot trial should inform the development of a larger, multicenter trial to evaluate the effectiveness of compression for KS lymphedema.
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    Identifying Gaps in Global Health Dermatology: A Survey of GLODERM Members
    (Oxford University Press, 2021) McMahon, Devon E.; Oyesiku, Linda; Amerson, Erin; Beltraminelli, Helmut; Chang, Aileen Y.; Forrestel, Amy; Hay, Roderick; Knapp, Alexia; Kovarik, Carrie; Maurer, Toby; Norton, Scott A.; Rehmus, Wingfield; Van Hees, Colette; Wanat, Karolyn A.; Williams, Victoria L.; Fuller, L. Claire; Freeman, Esther E.; Dermatology, School of Medicine
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    Implementing a Locally Made Low-Cost Intervention for Wound and Lymphedema Care in Western Kenya
    (Elsevier, 2021) Chang, Aileen Y.; Mungai, Margaret; Coates, Sarah J.; Chao, Tiffany; Odhiambo, Haji Philip; Were, Phelix M.; Fletcher, Sara L.; Maurer, Toby; Karwa, Rakhi; Pastakia, Sonak D.; Dermatology, School of Medicine
    In Western Kenya, the burden of chronic wounds and lymphedema has a significant impact on functionality and quality of life. Major barriers to provision of care include availability, affordability, and accessibility of bandages. At the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, dermatologists and pharmacists collaborated to develop a 2-component compression bandage modeled after the Unna boot, using locally available materials, that is distributed through a revolving fund pharmacy network. In partnership with nursing, use of these bandages at a national referral hospital and a few county facilities has increased, but increasing utilization to an expanded catchment area is needed.
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    Prevalence, Clinical Features, and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Group A Streptococcal Skin Infections in Schoolchildren in Urban Western and Northern Uganda
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2019) Chang, Aileen Y.; Scheel, Amy; Dewyer, Alyssa; Hovis, Ian W.; Sarnacki, Rachel; Aliku, Twalib; Okello, Emmy; Bwanga, Freddie; Sable, Craig; Maurer, Toby A.; Beaton, Andrea Z.; Dermatology, School of Medicine
    Background: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) skin infections can lead to invasive sepsis, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, and potentially rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Within a study to identify predisposing factors of RHD in Ugandan schoolchildren, we determined the prevalence of skin infections and assessed the clinical features and antibiotic susceptibility of GAS skin infection. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted at 3 urban primary schools in Western and Northern Uganda in March 2017. A dermatologist rendered clinical diagnoses and obtained a skin swab specimen from lesions with signs of bacterial infection. Beta-hemolytic colonies underwent Lancefield grouping, species identification by polymerase chain reaction and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results: From 3265 schoolchildren, we observed 32% with ≥1 fungal, 1.8% with ≥1 bacterial, 0.9% with ≥1 viral, and 0.2% with ≥1 ectoparasitic infection. Of 79, 25 (32%) specimens were GAS-positive, of which one-third demonstrated tetracycline resistance. Of 17 impetigo cases, 13 (76%) were located on the leg/foot and 3 (18%) on the head/neck. Prevalence of GAS skin infection was 0.8% (25 of 3265). In Northern Uganda, where subclinical definite RHD prevalence is 1.1%, GAS skin infection prevalence was 1.2% (4 of 343) and 0.9% (3 of 352). Conclusion: This study identifies tetracycline-resistant GAS in Ugandan communities, suggests modified skin examination of exposed anatomic locations may be appropriate for population-based GAS skin infection studies, and underscores need for clear case definitions of GAS skin infection. Future studies are needed to evaluate the role of GAS skin infection in development of RHD in Ugandan communities.