Skin disorders in Korean patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus and their association with a CD4 lymphocyte count: a preliminary study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Dermatological disorders are quite common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, cutaneous findings in Korean HIV-infected patients have not been properly investigated.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the spectrum of dermatological disorders in Korean HIV-infected individuals according to a CD4 lymphocyte count.

METHODS:

A retrospective clinical study was carried out from June 2002 to January 2008. We comprehensively collected information regarding HIV-associated skin problems, laboratory data and the history of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

RESULTS:

Ninety-nine HIV-seropositive patients (mean age: 39.6 ± 11.3 years, males: 94.9%) were included in this study. Of them, 55 patients (55.6%) presented with at least one skin problem. The four most common dermatological disorders were eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (18.6%), symptomatic syphilis (comprising of primary and secondary syphilis) (17.1%), seborrhoeic dermatitis (17.1%) and condyloma acuminatum (12.8%). The group with a CD4 lymphocyte count < 200 · 10⁶ cells ⁄ L showed a significantly higher prevalence of Kaposi sarcoma compared with the group with a CD4 lymphocyte count > 200 · 10⁶ cells ⁄ L (P = 0.014). Condyloma was more prevalent in the group with a CD4 count > 200 · 10⁶ cells ⁄ L (P = 0.022). The patients treated with HAART had a lower prevalence of neurosyphilis compared with the non-treated group (P = 0.018).

CONCLUSIONS:

Diverse dermatological conditions were demonstrated in Korean HIV-infected patients. Kaposi sarcoma was associated with a low CD4 lymphocyte count, but condyloma was associated with a high CD4 lymphocyte count. The prevalence of syphilis in our study was higher than that of Western countries. HAART seemed to be associated with the low prevalence of neurosyphilis.

• Authors: T-G Kim, K-H Lee, S-H Oh
• Journal: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 24 Issue 12 Pg. 1476-80 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1468-3083 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20384683 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy, immunology)
• Humans
• Korea
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Skin Diseases (complications, immunology)