Chronic pruritic eruption in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome associated with increased antibody titers to mosquito salivary gland antigens.
Five of seven patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who had pruritus and a chronic, nonspecific-appearing skin eruption had increased antibody titers to antigens in the salivary glands of Aedes taeniorhynchus, a salt marsh mosquito common to South Florida. We hypothesize that the pruritus and skin lesions in patients with AIDS represent a form of chronic "recall" reaction. Increased antibody titers to mosquito salivary gland antigens may be a consequence of nonspecific B cell activation, a feature of AIDS.
Penneys
N S
NS
Department of Dermatology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL.
Nayar
J K
JK
Bernstein
H
H
Knight
J W
JW
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D009033:Culicidae; D006801:Humans; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000276:immunology; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000276:immunology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000276:immunology*