title: Analysis of the scalp of women with AIDS subjected to autopsy: epithelial, follicular, and immunologic aspects.
abstract: Hair keeps the scalp warmer and slightly moister than the rest of the skin, which contributes to a favorable environment for mycotic, bacterial, and parasitic infections. It is well established that AIDS makes the patient more susceptible to opportunistic infections and cutaneous manifestations. Because of this, the aim of this study was to analyze scalp fragments of autopsied women with AIDS. Twenty-eight scalp samples of women aged between 18 and 46 years were observed. These women were divided into 2 groups: with AIDS (n = 14) and without AIDS (n = 14). We conducted histochemical (hematoxylin-eosin, Picrosirius, and Verhoeff), morphometric (Image J; National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, ON, Canada and KS-300 Kontron-Zeiss; Kontron Elektronik, Carl-Zeiss, Germany), and immunohistochemical (S-100) analyses of the scalp. In patients with AIDS, epithelial thickness, number of epithelial cell layers, number of immature Langerhans cells in the epidermis, and percentages of elastic fibers in the dermis were significantly lower, whereas telogen hair follicles were significantly higher. The percentage of collagen fibers in the dermis and the diameter of the epithelial cells were smaller in patients with AIDS, without significant difference. AIDS possibly causes immunologic and morphologic alterations in the scalp. This study may establish parameters for better clinical and morphologic diagnostic in patients with AIDS.
authors.affiliation: General Pathology Division, Triangulo Mineiro Federal University, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Humberto Aparecido
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farnese
authors.forename: Laura Penna
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Janaínna Grazielle Pacheco
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Olegário
authors.forename: Camila Lourencini
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cavellani
authors.forename: Camila Souza
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Guimarães
authors.forename: Marlene Antônia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.forename: Rosana Rosa
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Miranda Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012535:Scalp / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult