Reynaud-Mendel B, Janier M, Gerbaka J, Hakim C, Rabian C, Chastang C, Morel P
Sexually Transmissible Diseases Center, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
Dermatology. 1996;192(4):325-8. doi: 10.1159/000246404.
Skin manifestations are common in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but the prognostic significance of may of them is not clear.
Skin disorders were studied in a cohort of 267 HIV-infected patients followed prospectively and were correlated to the CD4+ cell count.
Among the most specific to HIV infection, Kaposi's sarcoma, oral hairy leukoplakia, molluscum contagiosum, xerosis and oral candidiasis were statistically associated to a low CD4+ cell count (200-300 CD4+/mm3; p < 0.001). Kaposi's sarcoma, oral candidiasis and molluscum contagiosum were more frequent in homosexual males (p < 0.05). Genital warts were more frequent in intravenous-drug users (p < 0.001).
These results suggest that dermatological findings are useful clinical predictors of the presence or progression of HIV infection.
