title: Exfoliative cheilitis (EC) in AIDS: association with Candida infection.
abstract: Forty-seven of 165 patients with AIDS (28.5%) showed exfoliative cheilitis (EC), predominantly of the lower lip (n = 37). Histologically, hyphae were revealed in 23 of 47 cases (49%). In 14 of 23 specimens the histological and microbiological findings were in accordance. Smears of the vermilion border revealed Candida albicans in half of the cases (51%); however, combinations with C. krusei, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata were also seen. Twenty of 35 patients given fluconazole either prophylactically or therapeutically showed clinical signs of oral candidiasis. Frequent moistening of the lips may result in infection of the vermilion border with Candida species; consequent desiccation of the lips will lead to scale formation and exfoliation. Smears of the vermilion border of the lower lip of 20 controls with AIDS were positive in four cases. Twenty HIV-negative controls without EC showed negative microbiological results for Candida species. Exfoliative cheilitis may be associated with Candida infection in some cases and may be considered another variant of candidiasis in AIDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Oralchirurgie und zahnärztliche Röntgenologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Reichart
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weigel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Westhausen
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Pohle
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole