Thalidomide: A Therapeutic Boon in the Management of Recurrent Genital Aphthous Ulceration in an Immunocompromised Individual

Abstract

Genital lesions are common in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients. Aetiology of the genital lesions are mainly due to Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and non-specific genital ulcers. They usually respond to the antiviral and antibacterial agents. We are presenting a young unmarried HIV positive and Hepatitis-B positive patient who presented with non-healing genital ulcer lesions while on antiretroviral therapy and showed variable response and challenges to treatment with antivirals, steroids, antibacterials and change of ART and finally dramatic response with Thalidomide therapy which is rarely described in the literature.