Oral mucosal lesions and HIV viral load in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS)

Article Abstract:

Oral yeast infections and a mouth disease called hairy leukoplakia are the most common mouth diseases seen in HIV-infected women. CD4 T cell counts below 200, smoking, and heroin or methadone use were the biggest risk factors for these conditions.

Women, HIV infection in women, Thrush (Mouth disease), Oral candidiasis

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Oral Kaposi's sarcoma in a woman as a first indication of HIV infection

Article Abstract:

The case report is presented of a 22-year-old woman who developed a painless bump on the hard palate (roof of the mouth) that did not disappear after antibiotic treatment. Analysis of a biopsy specimen led to the diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a type of malignancy associated with AIDS. The lesion was flat and purple and extended from the back of the hard palate to the soft palate. The diagnosis of oral hairy leukoplakia (characterized by white spots on the tongue) was also made. This was the patient's first symptom of AIDS; she was not a user of intravenous drugs nor had she received a blood transfusion. The patient had had a sexual relationship four years previously with a man who had a history of sexual involvement with female intravenous drug users. This history was unknown to the patient at the time of her relationship with the man. The patient had suffered lethargy and weight loss, as well as vaginal candidiasis (a fungal infection) in the months before KS was diagnosed, but attributed these symptoms to other causes. She was referred to the AIDS clinic and found to have very low levels of CD4-positive T cells, a cell population depleted in AIDS. Treatment was started with zidovudine (to slow the progression of AIDS) and aerosolized pentamidine (to prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia). The patient's condition was fair nine months later, with no spread of the oral KS lesion; however, three KS lesions appeared on the skin. KS is thought to be the first clinical sign of AIDS in 30 percent of the cases, and is most common in homosexual and bisexual men. Most women have Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia diagnosed as their first sign of the disease. A brief review is presented of the medical literature on this topic. Patients not considered at risk for this disease may develop intraoral KS as the first sign that they have been exposed to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Case studies, Demographic aspects, HIV (Viruses), HIV, AIDS (Disease), Oral manifestations of general diseases, Oral manifestations, Kaposi's sarcoma

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Effect of receptive oral sex and smoking on the incidence of hairy leukoplakia in HIV-positive gay men

Article Abstract:

Smoking may damage the lining of the mouth and increase the risk of hairy leukoplakia, according to a study of 405 HIV-positive gay men. Hairy leukoplakia is a mouth disease that may be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.

Health aspects, Risk factors, HIV infection, Smoking, Leukoplakia

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