When the skin speaks what HIV dictates: a series of particular cases of cutaneous manifestations in HIV

Background

Recent data show that almost 75% of HIV patients have muco-cutaneous diseases, the proportion of patients with dermatoses being inversely proportional to the CD4 + and directly proportional to the stage of disease. Papulo-pustular eruption is the most common pruritic dermatosis in patients with HIV infection, followed by seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, molluscum contagiosum and drug reactions.

Case report

We report a series of cases of patients with skin diseases associated with HIV infection, which are distinguished by particular features and clinical course.

Case 1: 54 years old patient with generalized psoriasis and HIV-syphilis co-infection. Case 2: male patient, aged 32 years, with acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau and HIV infection. Case 3: 34 years old female patient with papulo-pustular acne, molluscum contagiosum, plantar warts, cutaneous xerosis and HIV-HBV co-infection. Case 4: female patient aged 26 years with 20 years history of HIV infection and epidermodysplasia verruciformis for 10 years. Case 5: 25 years old male patient with excoriated and overinfected warts, hepatitis B and HIV infection. Case 6: Patient with HIV infection, seborrheic dermatitis and post herpes zoster scar. Case 7: Patient with HIV infection and pityriasis versicolor.

Conclusion

Most HIV patients can present with a variety of skin diseases throughout the evolution of HIV infection, as a result of achieved immunodeficiency or treatment. Patients undergoing HAART have a different clinical progress of HIV infections and therefore of dermatological manifestations, provided that the immune system’s functionality is restored.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all patients for publication of this Case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.