title: Granuloma annulare masquerading as molluscum contagiosum-like eruption in an HIV-positive African woman.
abstract: A 33-year-old African woman who was HIV positive and being treated with zidovudine and zalcitabine presented with a 4-week history of a generalized pruritic rash superficially resembling molluscum contagiosum. The appearance of the lesions appeared to coincide with a dramatic decrease in her peripheral CD8+, and to a lesser extent, CD4+ T-lymphocyte count. Hematologic investigations revealed anemia with eosinophilia and she had a strongly positive Strongyloides antibody test. The eruption persisted despite appropriate antihelminthic treatment and temporary withdrawal of antiretroviral therapy. Histologic examination showed ill-defined nodules of necrobiotic collagen with surrounding palisading mononuclear cell infiltrate consistent with granuloma annulare. The rash disappeared spontaneously over several weeks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary and HIV Medicine, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, Northwick Park and St. Mark's Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3UJ, UK. m.kapembwa@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: Moses S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kapembwa
authors.forename: Saleem K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Goolamali
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016460:Granuloma Annulare / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008976:Molluscum Contagiosum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D008463:Mebendazole