Dermatological Manifestations In Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Patients: Histopathology And CD4 Cell Count Correlation

Abstract

Background: More than 90% of the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients develop skin lesions at some point throughout the course of the disease. Although these conditions may be seen in general healthy population, their occurrence in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is often atypical, more severe and explosive. Histopathology study of skin biopsies from these lesions is very useful for the final diagnosis of these lesions.Methods: Total 60cases were studied. Punch biopsies from the skin lesions were studied with routine histopathology examination and special stains were used as and when required. The results were divided into infectious and non-infectious categories. Results were correlated with the CD4 counts of the patients.Results: Out of that22 (36.66%) patients had infectious lesions and 38 (63.33%) patients had non-infectious lesions. The spectrum of various non-infectious and infectious lesions such as viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoa, dermatitis, popular lesions and their association with CD4 counts is discussed. Conclusion:In present study mean CD4 cell count was found to be low (<350) in individuals with infectious skin lesions, where as noninfectious lesions were associated with higher (>350) CD4 cell counts.