Cutaneous Manifestations in HIV Positive Patients (Investigation Made in 1985 - 1998)

Overview

The authors investigated prospectively for a period of 13 years 103 HIV positive patients (94 men and 9 women, aged 20 to 56 years, mean age 38 years) with cutaneous and mucosal manifestations, i.e. infectious dermatoses (95 % mycotic, 56 % viral, 40 % bacterial and 7 % parasitic), tumours (10 %) and other dermatoses (37 %). Most frequently seborrhoic dermatitis was diagnosed (35 %), tinea pedum (24 %), atopic dermatitis (23 %. Classical venereal diseases were present in 13 % patients (syphilis latens in 9 patients), but another 40 % patients were treated on account of another sexually transmitted infection. Tumours were represented by Kaposi’s sarcoma (10 %), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (1%) and mycosis fungoides (1 %). The absolute number of CD4+ lymphocytes was lowest in patients with tumors and drug exanthema (120 - 130 cells/ml). Patients with herpes zoster hairy leukoplakia and mollusci had a mean number of CD4+ lymphocytes of less than 200 cells/ml. As compared with data in the literature atopic dermatitis was diagnosed more frequently, while fewer patients suffered from oropharyngeal candidosis, herpes simplex or hairy leukoplakia. Bacillary angiomatosis and eosinophil folliculitis were not present, while rosacea, alopecia areata and lichen planus were found. The authors draw attention to mucocutaneous diseases which should help physicians to make an early diagnosis of HIV infection.

Key words:
HIV infection - immunology - skin manifestations