[Skin diseases in patients with AIDS: study in 55 cases in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil].
Fifty-five patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) seen at the Dermatology outpatient clinic and who had mucocutaneous diseases were studied. These diseases, some of them opportunistic, are common but difficult to diagnose given the atypical features of the lesions.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency and clinical presentation of dermatoses related to Aids seen at the Dermatology outpatient clinic.


METHODS
Fifty-five patients with Aids and mucocutaneous lesions were examined from 1995 to 1997 in a cross-sectional study carried out at the Dermatology outpatient clinic of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Biopsies and cultures were undertaken for laboratory diagnosis.


RESULTS
One hundred sixteen dermatoses were diagnosed. Fungal infections (78%) were the commonest among them, followed by viral infections (40%), papulosquamous disorders (27%), papular eruptions (18%), adverse drug reactions (10%), tumors (9%) and a variety of others (7%). The majority of the patients (67%) had more than one type of skin disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
In agreement with previous literature data fungal and viral infections were confirmed as the most frequent skin disorders in HIV-positive patients. Dermatological examination, laboratory tests and skin biopsy for histopathological study are necessary for appropriate diagnostic investigation of HIV-related mucocutaneous diseases considering that atypical presentation occurs in a large proportion of the patients.
Serviço de Dermatologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU)-MG.
Mabel Duarte Alves
MD
Gomides
Alceu Luiz Camargo Villela
AL
Berbert
Sônia Antunes de Oliveira
SA
Mantese
Adenir
A
Rocha
Marcelo Simão
MS
Ferreira
Aercio S
AS
Borges
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology