title: Oral hairy leukoplakia in a HIV-negative renal transplant patient: a marker for immunosuppression?
abstract: We report the case of a 58-year-old renal transplant patient who developed oral hairy leukoplakia. Examination for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection was negative. Biopsy of the lateral tongue showed ballooned prickle cells and electron microscopy revealed herpes-type viruses. In situ hybridization and examinations with the Southern blot technique yielded Epstein-Barr virus. Serology for Epstein-Barr virus was reactive. Immunological investigation of the patient showed a marked decrease of T-helper and T-suppressor cells as the result of immunosuppressive regimen. Oral hairy leukoplakia may be a marker for severe immunosuppression but is not necessarily associated with HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Itin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rufli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rüdlinger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cathomas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huser
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podvinec
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudat
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*