title: Oral candidosis in HIV-infected patients. Prognostic value and correlation with immunological parameters.
abstract: In a prospective study, 29 patients were observed over a period of 42 weeks for signs of oral candidosis (OC), immunological parameters and other typical AIDS-related events. Before the study started, no OC was observed in any of the patients. During the observation period, OC was diagnosed in 12 of the 29 patients (41%). 5 of these 12 patients (42%) developed full-blown AIDS during the 42 weeks. In contrast, a progression to AIDS was observed in only 1 of the 17 patients (5.9%) without OC. The laboratory findings for patients with and without OC showed statistically significant differences for neopterin (23.6 against 14.4 nmol l-1), CD4 counts (417 against 763/mm3) and CD4/CD8 ratios (0.45 against 0.85). Based on these results, it seems justifiable to consider prophylactic measures such as pentamidine inhalation and/or treatment with zidovudine in HIV-infected patients with immunodeficiency and occurrence of OC.
authors.affiliation: St. Georg General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plettenberg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reisinger
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lenzner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Listemann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meigel
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin