Oral diseases in HIV-1 infection

Abstract

HIV-associated oral lesions have been reported since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, be they fungal, viral, bacterial, neoplastic, or non-specific in origin. The most common lesions are oral candidiasis (OC; noted in several forms) and oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). OC appears to be directly related to levels of immunosuppression while OHL, a newly described lesion, is associated with the Epstein-Barr virus. Although prevalence data for all types of oral lesions are scarce, this review identifies and describes those reported most often. Lesions associated with HIV may appear on most oral mucosal surfaces and may differ from those seen on other body areas. The role of saliva in reducing the potential for transmission of the HIV virus appears to be significant. Physicians and dentists should cooperate in the management of the HIV patient who has oral disease.

Dental students’ knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus

“…The most common oral manifestations are oral candidiasis and oral hairy leukoplakia. 9,10 Researchers have detected candidiasis in 88% of patients who are HIV positive. 9 Kaposi's sarcoma is primarily seen in the seventh decade of life mostly affecting the lower extremities.…”

Mathematical Models of the Complete Course of HIV Infection and AIDS

“…If CD4 þ T cells remain the main source of virus throughout the course of infection, then the relationship between the immune system and the virus must change. It is possible that an HIV weakened immune system may lose the ability to clear virus efficiently, as it does with many types of pathogens (Hansen et al, 1985;Barr, 1992;Matsuo et al, 2001). Though some studies suggest that clearance rates do not change throughout infection (Ho et al, 1995), there is a significant amount of variation in the measurements derived from different studies (Ho et al, 1995;Mittler et al, 1999;Ramratnam et al, 1999).…”

“…There are two further explanations which could account for high viral loads in the absence of normal CD4 þ T cell counts. One of the hallmarks of AIDS is the inability of the body to efficiently clear infections of all kinds (Hansen et al, 1985;Barr, 1992;Matsuo et al, 2001). Thus, it is reasonable to hypothesize that as HIV infection progresses to AIDS, the immune system loses the ability to clear virus efficiently, resulting in a longer residence time for the virus population.…”

Diagnosing HIV-Related disease

“…Oropharyngeal candidiasis, often the first sign of HIV infection, is the most prevalent oral lesion in HIV-infected individuals, 28 and it tends to occur at CD4 counts less than 500/mm 3 . 29 Esophageal candidiasis occurs at CD4 counts below 100/mm 3 and is usually accompanied by odynophagia.…”