Abstract
In May 2022, a cluster of non-travel-related cases of human mpox were
reported in the UK. The outbreak has since spread world-wide infecting
over 85,000 patients and causing over 100 deaths. Recent data clearly
suggest that patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
with CD4 counts less than 200 cells per mm 3 suffer
significantly worse outcomes than immunocompetent patients. The
available countermeasures lack robust clinical data and are deployed
based on in vitro and animal studies as well as extrapolations
from use against other poxviruses. In many cases, despite administration
of these available treatments, initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and
management of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS),
patients die. This review summarizes available data, identifies
knowledge gaps and proposes recommendations on the management of severe
mpox in PLWH.