Frequency and characteristics of mucocutaneous diseases in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus

ABSTRACT Frequency and Characteristics of Mucocutaneous Diseases in Individuals Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Aim: Although mucocutaneous diseases in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus have been addressed in many studies, the risk factors affecting the number of these diseases, apart from immune markers, have not been sufficiently examined. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the risk factors affecting the number of dermatological diseases in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Materials and Methods: Skin examinations were performed on 417 patients (368 males, 49 females) infected with human immunodeficiency virus, who consecutively presented to the Çukurova University Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Polyclinic. Multivariate ordinal logistic analyses were performed, with dermatosis count groups (none, low, high) as the dependent variables, and age, gender, marital status, educational level, occupation, comorbidity, smoking, alcohol use, estimated route of transmission, treatment status, follow-up period, CD4 groups, CD8 count, and viral load as independent variables. Results: The frequency of mucocutaneous diseases was 82%. The three most common dermatoses were candidiasis (45,6%), seborrheic dermatitis (20,6%), and dermatophytosis (20,4%). Candidiasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and dermatophytosis were significantly associated with both low CD4 count and detectable viral load, whereas xerosis (15,8%) was significantly associated with low CD4 count only. The risk factors affecting the number of mucocutaneous diseases in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus were: being single, having a low CD4 count, and detectable viral load in the blood. The relationship between the number of dermatoses and staging based on CD4 count/percentage and presence of AIDS-defining disease at the time of diagnosis was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: Being single, having a low CD4 count, and having a detectable viral load are risk factors for the development of dermatological diseases in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus. It was found that the development of candidiasis, seborrheic dermatitis, dermatophytosis, and xerosis during the follow-up of patients may be a sign of weak immunity. It is recommended that patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus be referred to a dermatologist for dermatological examination if the disease is detected in an advanced stage. Keywords: CD4, dermatology, HIV, mucocutaneous, viral load