Oral lesions in Brazilian HIV-infected children undergoing HAART.
BACKGROUND
The advent of new antiretroviral drugs such as protease inhibitors (PI) has generated sensible changes in oral manifestation patterns in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected adult patients.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has brought changes to pattern and prevalence of oral lesions related to HIV in the HIV-infected pediatric population.


METHODS
We analyzed medical charts of 471 children aged zero to 12 years and 11 months with HIV infection and followed up by the Ambulatory of AIDS, Clinical Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital das Clinicas, Medical School, Sao Paulo University, from January 1990 to December 2004. Four hundred and fifty-nine children were divided into two groups, according to age range: X (0-5 years and 11 months) and Y (6-12 years and 11 months). These groups were subdivided into four subgroups, according to use of ART (antiretroviral therapy without PI) or HAART. We recorded data related to type of oral lesion presented, as well as serum CD4+ lymphocyte count. The groups were compared concerning prevalence and presentation pattern of oral manifestations.


RESULTS
Out of 459 children, 144 (31.4%) had oral lesions. We observed that in children aged 6-12 years and 11 months who were taking HAART, there was lower prevalence of oral lesions (p=0.005), specially hairy leukoplakia (p<0.02), without any affection to the common presentation pattern of these lesions. The same subgroup also had higher serum CD4+ lymphocyte counts (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that use of HAART could lead to reduction in prevalence of oral lesions in HIV-infected children.
Miziara
Ivan D
ID
Division of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology, Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. miz@uol.com.br
Filho
Bernardo C Araújo
BC
Weber
Raimar
R
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001938:Brazil; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017733:Leukoplakia, Hairy / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000209:etiology; D010309:Parotitis / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000209:etiology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents