title: Pruritic papular eruption in HIV: a case successfully treated with NB-UVB.
abstract: Pruritic papular eruption (PPE) is a skin disease characterized by the eruption of itching papules on the extremities, face, and trunk; it is quite frequent in HIV-positive patients especially during the advanced immunosuppressive stage. PPE usually improves or heals when antiretroviral therapy restores the immune system function, but in some cases, it can take several months, and a symptomatic treatment for PPE is required. Systemic antihistamines, topical steroids, topical tacrolimus, itraconazole, pentoxyphilline, and ultraviolet B phototherapy have been proposed in cases of persisting PPE, but an elective treatment has not yet been found. We describe the case of a black patient affected by PPE, nonimproving with antiretroviral treatment, and resistant to topical steroids and oral antihistamines; a satisfactory and speedy result was achieved with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Nephrology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. sara.bellavista4@unibo.it
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellavista
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D' Antuono
authors.forename: Salvatore Domenico
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Infusino
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trimarco
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patrizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012872:Skin Diseases, Vesiculobullous / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000379:methods*