Pigmentation: a potential cutaneous marker for AIDS?
Pigmentation of skin, nails and mucosae has frequently been described in HIV positive patients. Various causes for this phenomenon have been ascribed, which include intake of various drugs like zidovudine, opportunistic infections like toxoplasmosis and adrenocortical suppression. However, there has been no uniform explanation. We describe three AIDS patients with different personal and disease profiles but essentially the same pattern of pigmentation. This pattern of pigmentation is thereby discussed. We also propose that this pigmentation could be a result of late stage HIV disease per se and thus could serve as a useful cutaneous marker for the same.
Grover
Chander
C
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi, India.
Kubba
Samir
S
Bansal
Shikha
S
Nanda
Soni
S
Reddy
Belum Siva Nagi
BS
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009262:Nails / Q000473:pathology; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology