title: Pruritus in HIV-infected patients in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy: a study of its prevalence and causes.
abstract: Pruritus is a common symptom in HIV-infected patients. However, there is a lack of studies examining this symptom. We investigated the prevalence of pruritus and its causes in this population by offering the possibility of participating in a skin health programme to all HIV-infected patients who attended our service in Alicante, Spain. Those who accepted (n = 303) underwent an interview and a detailed physical examination by specialists from the Dermatology Department. Between May 2003 and October 2003, 94 patients (31%) reported pruritus: xerosis, seborrhoeic eczema and interdigital tinea pedis were the most frequent dermatological entities responsible for this symptom. Patients with pruritus had higher viral loads (P = 0.006). We conclude that pruritus is still a frequent symptom in HIV-infected patients. To the best of our knowledge this is the first prevalence study of pruritus in an HIV population in the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Hospital Marina Baixa, Villajoyosa, Alicante, Spain. blanes_marmar@gva.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanes
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Belinchón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Portilla
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Betlloch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Payá
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents