title: Osteomyelitis of the jaw in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
abstract: Eight patients with osteomyelitis of the jaw were identified at two county hospitals over a 4-year period. Three patients (37.5%) were found to be HIV-seropositive, including two patients not previously known to be HIV-seropositive. Signs and symptoms of infection were similar in both groups of patients, and commonly included fever, pain, and swelling. Radiographs showed specific findings of osteomyelitis in one of three HIV-seropositive patients and four of four seronegative patients with chronic jaw infection. HIV-seropositive patients appeared to have a worse clinical outcome than their seronegative counterparts. We conclude that osteomyelitis of the jaw may be the presenting manifestation of HIV infection, and that careful attention and close follow-up should be applied to such patients because of their poor overall clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Rafael, Calif. 94903.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edelstein
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Chirurgi
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hybarger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology