title: Lymphomatoid papulosis in an HIV-positive man.
abstract: Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a rare cutaneous lymphoproliferative condition characterized by a chronic, recurrent eruption of papules and nodules that undergo spontaneous regression. The disorder is usually clinically benign; with a minority of cases progressing to malignant lymphoma. LyP is divided into two subtypes based on histologic appearance. Type A resembles Hodgkin's disease with up to 20% of large CD30+ lymphocytes. Type B resembles mycosis fungoides showing an infiltrate of CD4+ lymphocytes and scattered CD30+ cells. Clinically LyP often resembles pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta but has a strikingly different histological appearance. Histologically, LyP resembles lymphoma (anaplastic T-cell or Hodgkin's) but is distinguished by its benign course. Here we present a case of LyP in a severely immune-repressed HIV-positive patient. This patient presented with pruritic papules involving the upper extremities and a CD4+ T-cell count of 4. Histopathologic examination showed a dense superficial dermal infiltrate comprising normal-sized lymphocytes admixed with larger lymphocytes. Immunophenotyping showed most of the lymphocytes to be CD3+ (T cells). The scattered larger cells were CD30+. The smaller lymphocytes were CD8+ rather than CD4+ as expected for non-HIV-appointed LyP. This may be because of the immune disregulation of HIV disease and the absolute and relative paucity of CD4+ T cells relative to CD8+ T cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirzabeigi
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Withee
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vincek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002990:Clobetasol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D017731:Lymphomatoid Papulosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D002990:Clobetasol