Clinico pathological study of cutaneous lesions in HIV positive patients

Abstract

Background: AIDS is a fatal illness caused by human immunodeficiency virus. About 90% ofthe HIV infected individuals sufferfrom one ormore skin lesions.The proportion of skincomplications and severity of several common cutaneous diseases are increased in HIV infected patients. Aim: 1. To study the histopathology of different cutaneous lesions present in HIV positive patients. 2. To correlate histopathological diagnosis with clinical diagnosis of skin lesions in HIV positive patients. Materials and Methods: Clinico pathological study of 65 skin biopsy specimens from HIVseropositive patients with cutaneous manifestations was carried out. Laboratory findings carriedout for the patients like routine haematological tests, serology test for HIV and CD4 and CD8 T cell count were noted and included in the study. Results: A total of 31 skin lesions were identified from 65patients. Specific microscopic findings were seen in all these cases. The infectious etiology was seen in 26 cases (40%), non infectious skin lesions in 23 cases (35.38%) and neoplastic lesions in 3 cases (4.61%). The spectrum of histopathological findings was correlated with clinical diagnosis. Clinico-histopathological discrepancies were observed in 5cases(7.66%). Conclusion: Cutaneous biopsy confirmed the diagnosisin many cases andin few cases it revealed clinically unsuspected diagnosis which reiterates the necessity of histopathologic investigations of cutaneous lesions in HIV/AIDS patients.