The effect of antiretroviral therapy on the prevalence of HIV-associated oral candidiasis in a Spanish cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the temporal changes in the prevalence of oral candidiasis in a cohort of Spanish human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, before and after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of a clinical database from "Carlos Haya" Hospital, Málaga, Spain, from 1995 to 2000. The prevalence of oral candidiasis was assessed in 807 HIV/AIDS patients and the temporal progression of its major variants evaluated using a linear regression model.


RESULTS
Overall oral candidiasis was prevalent in 30.0% to 48.3% of the cohort throughout and no significant variation in its incidence was noted during the study period. Prevalence of erythematous candidiasis increased from 24.5% (1995) to 45.0% (2000) and pseudomembranous candidiasis decreased from 22.4% (1995) to 5.2% (2000) (P<.05). Hyperplastic candidiasis was not detected in the cohort after the introduction of HAART therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Although oral candidiasis in HIV-infected Spanish individuals has not decreased significantly after the introduction of HAART, there appears to be a significant reduction in hyperplastic and pseudomembranous variants of the disease with a compensatory increase in erythematous candidiasis.
Ceballos-Salobreña
Alejandro
A
Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Granada, Spain.
Gaitaín-Cepeda
Luis
L
Ceballos-García
Laura
L
Samaranayake
Lakshman P
LP
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004890:Erythema; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology