Oral lesions in HIV and HCV co-infected individuals in HAART era.
BACKGROUND
During recent years, a new population of HIV and HCV co-infected subjects has emerged presenting particular oral problems. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV+ subjects and HIV and HCV co-infected subjects, to assess whether co-infection is a risk factor for the presence of oral lesions.


METHODS
200 HIV+ subjects were consecutively enrolled, divided into two groups: Group 1 (130 HIV+ subjects) and Group 2 (70 HIV-HCV co-infected subjects) and visited by two oral medicine specialists. Epidemiological, laboratory and clinical parameters were gathered to determine the possible risk factors for oral lesions.


RESULTS
52 on 200 subjects (26%) presented oral lesions: in Group 1, 25 on 130 subjects (19.23%) presented oral lesions, whereas in Group 2, 27 on 70 subjects (38.57%) presented oral lesions. Multivariate analysis showed that the following variables are statistically associated with the presence of oral lesions: HIV-HCV co-infection (OR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.01-5.33: P < 0.05) and the use of drugs for the treatment of systemic diseases not associated with HIV (OR = 4.34; 95% CI = 1.78-5.33: P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to assess, on the basis of our results, that co-infected patients are more prone than HIV mono-infected patients to develop oral lesions and thus should undergo strict oral medicine monitoring.
Giuliani
Michele
M
School of Dentistry, Catholic University, Largo A Gemelli, Rome, Italy. michele.giuliani@rm.unicatt.it
Lajolo
Carlo
C
Sartorio
Alessandra
A
Ammassari
Adriana
A
Lacaita
Maria Grazia
MG
Scivetti
Michele
M
Tamburrini
Enrica
E
Tumbarello
Mario
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003075:Coitus; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009067:Mouthwashes; D012254:Ribavirin